Journal Article
Dengue contributes a significant burden on global public health and economies. In Africa,
the burden of dengue virus (DENV) infection is not well described. This review was undertaken
to determine the prevalence of dengue and associated risk factors. A literature search was done on
PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases to identify articles published be-
tween 1960 and 2020. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effect model at a 95% confidence
interval, followed by subgroup meta-analysis to determine the overall prevalence. Between 1960 and
2020, 45 outbreaks were identified, of which 17 and 16 occurred in East and West Africa, respectively.
Dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1) and DENV-2 were the dominant serotypes contributing to 60% of
the epidemics. Of 2211 cases reported between 2009 and 2020; 1954 (88.4%) were reported during
outbreaks. Overall, the prevalence of dengue was 29% (95% CI: 20–39%) and 3% (95% CI: 1–5%)
during the outbreak and non-outbreak periods, respectively. Old age (6/21 studies), lack of mosquito
control (6/21), urban residence (4/21), climate change (3/21), and recent history of travel (3/21) were
the leading risk factors. This review reports a high burden of dengue and increased risk of severe
disease in Africa. Our findings provide useful information for clinical practice and health policy
decisions to implement effective interventions.