Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers remain common in both hospitals and in the community settings, leading to chronic wounds that are difficult to treat. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the prevalence of pressure ulcer and associated factors in Ethiopia. METHODS: This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted across electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed from March 20 and April 6, 2025. The quality of each included article was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using STATA version 17.0. A random effects model was employed to calculate the pooled effect size. The I(2) test was used to assess the heterogeneity among the included studies. Additionally, a funnel plot and Egger's regression test were used to assess publication bias. Sensitivity analysis were conducted. RESULTS: This study included twelve articles comprising a total of 3319 participants. The overall pooled prevalence of pressure ulcers in Ethiopia was 10.93% (95% CI: 7.57%-14.29%), with significant heterogeneity observed across studies (I(2) = 92.09%, P < 0.001). The prevalence may be overestimated due to potential publication bias. This systematic review and meta-analysis, identified the following factors as a predictors of pressure ulcers: being bedridden (AOR, 4.75, 95% CI 2.53-6.97); being diabetic (AOR, 3.28, 95% CI, 1.61-4.94); friction (AOR, 6.75, 95% CI, 2.15-11.36); hospital stay > 21 days (AOR, 4.9, 95% CI, 3.46-6.33); lack of frequent change in position (AOR, 5.96, 95% CI, 2.1-9.81); and sensory disorders (AOR, 2.93, 95% CI, 2.36-3.51). CONCLUSION: This study revealed a substantial burden of pressure ulcers in Ethiopia and identified several significant predictors for their development. This findings underscore the importance of implementing prevention and early detection strategy by clinicians and policymakers.