Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
Background: Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder characterized by the loss of melanocytes, resulting in depigmented macules and patches. No accurate estimate has been made of the prevalence of vitiligo in East Africa.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of vitiligo in East Africa via a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Eleven articles were retrieved from PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science and African Journals Online. Microsoft Excel was used to extract the data, which were then exported to STATA 17 for analysis using a random effects model. Heterogeneity of studies was assessed by Cochran’s Q test and I2 statistics. Publication bias was detected with a funnel plot and the Egger test.
Results: The 11 studies retrieved from the literature search provided a total sample size of 8444 individuals reported between 2000 and 2025. The overall pooled prevalence of vitiligo was 6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3–8], while the prevalence among male and female individuals was 54% (95% CI 19–73) and 46% (95% CI 3–61), respectively. The prevalence in children was 3% (95% CI 2–5), 9% (95% CI 7–12) in adults and 7% (95% CI 2–11) in the general population. The models showed that the prevalence of vitiligo in Tanzania was 1% (95% CI 0–3), while the pooled prevalence of vitiligo in Ethiopia was 8% (95% CI 5–11).
Conclusions: In East Africa, the combined prevalence of vitiligo was relatively high. The increased prevalence of vitiligo highlights the need for health policymakers to pay attention to vitiligo.
Keywords
vitiligo, prevalence, epidemiology, East Africa, skin disorders, systematic review
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
10-1-2026
E-ISSN
2690442X
Volume
6
Issue
5
Publication Title
Skin Health and Disease
Publisher
Oxford Academic
School
Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute / School of Medical and Health Sciences
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
First Page
680
Last Page
689
Recommended Citation
Seid, K., Jaleta, C. G., Lorato, S. S., Desalegn, M., Rundasa, D. T., Ashebir, Y. G., Getahun, O. K., Lakew, G., Gemmechu, M. M., Zeleke, M. E., Atalay, Y. A., Yirsaw, A. N., Bogale, E. K., Tikuneh, A. H., Hassen, A. A., Lake, E. A., Nigussie, T., Bibi, B., Jaleta, F. Y., . . . Getahun, G. K. (2026). Prevalence of vitiligo in East Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Skin Health and Disease, 6(5), 680–689. https://doi.org/10.1093/skinhd/vzag069