Prevalence and Associated Factors of Developmental Delay Among Under-five Children in Sub-saharan African Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Developmental delay (DD) is a major public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the pooled prevalence of DD and identified associated factors among children in SSA. Methods Observational studies were identified from PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and African Journals Online. Data were analyzed using STATA version 16 with a random-effects model. Results Pooled prevalence was 33.00% (95% CI: 22.00–44.00). Subgroup analysis showed the highest prevalence in South Africa ( 37.00%; 95% CI: 10.00–73.00 ). Maternal education (AOR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.24–0.72), child age (AOR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.23–0.81), maternal age (AOR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.10–0.57), and nutritional status (AOR = 3.59; 95% CI: 1.08–11.92) were significantly associated with DD. Conclusion The pooled prevalence of DD in Sub-Saharan Africa is high. Maternal education, child age, maternal age, and nutritional status were key factors associated with DD. Strengthening early screening, improving maternal education, and promoting optimal child nutrition are essential to reduce the burden of developmental delay.