The Burden and Associated Factors of Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Prisoners in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Introduction Intestinal parasitic infection poses a significant health problem among prisoners. This burden arises from inadequate facilities and limited access to health education, malnourishment, limited access to drinkable water, overcrowding, and poor cleanliness. Methods PRISMA guidelines were followed in this systematic review and meta‐analysis. To find relevant data, we looked through gray literature sources and published studies through online databases like ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Semantic Scholar. The Condition, Context, and Population (COCOPO) principle was used to develop search terms. The papers′ quality was evaluated using the critical assessment checklist for prevalence studies developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). To arrange, assess, and cite relevant studies, EndNote (Version X9) was utilized. Data analysis was performed using Stata software, Version 17. Result This study, included a total of eight studies, involving 2412 prisoners. According to a random‐effects model, the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection among prisoners in Ethiopia was 45% (95% CI: 39%–51%), with a significant degree of heterogeneity ( I 2 = 87.79 % , p < 0.01). In this study, the most common monoinfection was E. histolytica/dispar (16%, 95% CI: 12%–23%), whereas the most common multiple infection was E. histolytica/dispar  +  G. lamblia (3%, 95% CI: 2%–5%) and E. histolytica/dispar  +  A. lumbricoides (3%, 95% CI: 1%–6%). In this review, intestinal parasitic infection was associated with handwashing after toilet (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.11–5.45), handwashing before a meal (OR = 3.85, 95% CI: 1.71–8.68), the status of hand hygiene (OR = 2.99, 95% CI: 2–4.48), and untrimmed hand fingernails (OR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.51–2.96). Conclusion In Ethiopia, intestinal parasitic infections are prevalent among prisoners. The common parasitic infections were E. histolytica/dispar and E. histolytica/dispar  +  H. worms. Among prisoners, intestinal parasitic infection is associated with handwashing before a meal, handwashing after toilet, the status of hand hygiene, and untrimmed fingernails.