{
  "abstract": "BackgroundOcular morbidity remains poorly characterized among prisoners; this systematic review and meta-analysis quantified its prevalence, spectrum and associated factors across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).MethodsThis review followed a published Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Protocols (PRISMA-P) and searched eight databases using prespecified terms, with study selection guided by PRISMA. Data were standardized and synthesized using random-effects meta-analysis to estimate pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with heterogeneity assessed using I2 and sensitivity and condition-specific analyses used to assess variation.ResultsSix studies comprising 3,361 participants from four SSA countries, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of ocular morbidity was 43.1% (95% CI: 12.4–77.1%; I2 = 99.2%). Conjunctivitis was the most prevalent condition (23.9%; 95% CI, 10.7–40.1%), followed by refractive error (19.5%; 95% CI, 12.5–27.5%) and presbyopia (18.6%; 95% CI, 5.2–37.7%). Cataract (7.4%), glaucoma (5.6%) and corneal scar or opacity (3.0%) were less prevalent. Age >50 years (OR = 11.96; 95% CI, 5.31–26.94) and a history of ocular trauma (OR = 5.21; 95% CI, 1.52–17.87) were associated with higher odds of ocular morbidity. Longer imprisonment was associated with xerophthalmia (OR = 20.1; 95% CI, 8.3–48.8%), whereas access to food from outside prison was associated with lower odds of ocular morbidity (OR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26–0.79).ConclusionOcular morbidity affects approximately four in ten prison inmates in SSA, with much of this burden preventable or treatable, despite considerable between-study heterogeneity and limited geographical evidence. Collectively, these findings support integrated prison eye care and standardized research to advance equitable interventions across SSA.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana",
    "Department of Psychology, John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, United States",
    "University of Ghana Library System, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana",
    "Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States",
    "National Eye Care Unit, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana",
    "Department of Applied Science and Mechatronics, HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 14,
  "authors": [
    {
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        0
      ],
      "name": "Josephine Ampong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Isaiah Osei Duah Junior"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Isaiah Osei Duah Junior"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Bismark Beesi Coffie"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kelvin Oppong Kyeremateng"
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    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Emmanuel Tettey Doku"
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    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eric Tettey Ashong"
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    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Kwesi Sewe"
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    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Loretta Addo-Danso"
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    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Albert Kwadjo Amoah Andoh"
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    {
      "affs": [
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      "name": "David Ben Kumah"
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    {
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      "name": "Hornametor Yao Afake"
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    {
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      "name": "Werner Eisenbarth"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Kwadwo Owusu Akuffo"
    }
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  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3nqr571p0t7ak.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fmed.2026.1969779",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1969779/full",
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  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
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  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
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  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1969779/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13741224",
  "pmid": "42997227",
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media S.A.",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3nqr571p0t7ak.ris",
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  "title": "Burden, spectrum and associated factors of ocular disease among incarcerated populations in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "title_text": "Burden, spectrum and associated factors of ocular disease among incarcerated populations in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T15:20:34Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3nqr571p0t7ak",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Medicine",
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