Abstract
Introduction: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is now in its fifth decade and remains a devastating public health challenge. However, limited local evidence on the prevalence pattern remains a major gap. This systematic review synthesized existing data to provide evidence-based insights into the HIV situation and to support bottom-up sustainable health strategies. The study collated relevant studies to estimate the prevalence of HIV in Plateau State, Nigeria.
Methods: This systematic review was reported in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The literature was searched in PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Global Health, HINARI, among other databases, using search terms and keywords combined with Boolean operators to retrieve primary published studies between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2023. R-version 4.0.2 was used to estimate the pooled overall and gender-based HIV prevalence with 95% confidence interval (CI) under a random-effects model. Heterogeneity analysis indicated substantial variation across studies, with an I2 value > 90% among 26 studies involving 655,060 participants. Egger’s regression showed evidence of publication bias, although the funnel plot appeared symmetrical, with studies distributed around the pooled effect size.
Results: The pooled HIV prevalence was 6.32% (95% CI: 4.29-9.21), I2 = 100%, P < 0.001. Subgroup analysis revealed the highest HIV prevalence among females, at 60.37% (95% CI: 39.42 - 91.39), I2 = 99%, P < 0.001, and among males, at 15.90% (95% CI: 7.67-32.68), I2 = 95%, P < 0.01.
Conclusion: The high variability observed among the studies demonstrated substantial heterogeneity, likely due to gender-related vulnerability to HIV infection. A gender-based HIV prevention strategy, with priority given to the most at-risk women, should be designed and implemented to halt both vertical and horizontal transmission of HIV.