Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Gestational trophoblastic disease, characterised by abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue in the placenta during pregnancy, contributes to maternal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and histopathological patterns of gestational trophoblastic disease in Africa, where previous studies have reported inconsistent findings. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, Hinari and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2000 and January 2024. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Institution-based observational studies from African countries reporting the prevalence and/or histopathological patterns of gestational trophoblastic disease, using total deliveries as the denominator. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data were extracted into Excel and analysed using Stata V.17. Pooled estimates were calculated using a random-effects model with Knapp-Hartung adjustment. Heterogeneity was assessed with Cochran's Q test and the I² statistic, and study quality was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. RESULTS: Of the 2252 studies identified, 33 were included, comprising 2885 gestational trophoblastic disease cases from eight countries. The pooled prevalence of gestational trophoblastic disease in Africa was 4.35 per 1000 deliveries (95% CI 3.26 to 5.45, I(2)=99.8%). The pooled prevalence of hydatidiform mole, invasive mole and choriocarcinoma in Africa was 3.49 per 1000 deliveries (95% CI 2.45 to 4.52, I(2)=99.7%), 0.47 per 1000 deliveries (95% CI 0.14 to 0.79, I(2)=72.2%) and 0.97 per 1000 deliveries (95% CI 0.54 to 1.40, I(2)=99.1%), respectively. CONCLUSION: This review indicated the prevalence of gestational trophoblastic disease was high. Hydatidiform mole was the predominant histopathological pattern observed. Routine antenatal screening is needed for early detection. Further research should be conducted to identify risk factors and evaluate strategies for the prevention and management of the disease. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024504268.