Prevalence of HIV in slums area: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a significant global health burden, particularly affecting vulnerable populations residing in slum areas which is characterized by overcrowding, poverty, and limited access to healthcare services, create an environment conducive to the transmission and spread of HIV. Despite the recognition of this issue, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the prevalence of HIV in slums. The aim of this study was to systematically synthesize the existing global evidence on HIV prevalence in slum populations. A rigorous systematic literature review was conducted by searching multiple electronic databases, including Medline via PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Sciences, and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), covering the period from January 1, 1990, to March 31, 2023. The quality and risk of bias for each included study were assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The pooled prevalence with its corresponding 95