Global prevalence and public health impact of intestinal parasitic infections in children under five: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Hassan Taherahmadi·Milad Badri·Aida Vafae Eslahi·Meysam Olfatifar·Sayed Hussain Mosawi·Fatemeh Samiee-Rad·Abouzar Babaei·Ioannis Adamopoulos·Zahra Gharibi·Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi·Morteza Habibi·Faezeh Mohammadi
Abstract Background Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) remain a significant public health concern worldwide, particularly affecting children under five years old. These infections contribute to malnutrition, impaired growth, diarrhea, and increased morbidity and mortality, disproportionately impacting low- and middle-income countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate the global prevalence of IPIs in children under five and examine the influence of socioeconomic, envi