title: Prevalence of diabetes in Zimbabwe: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetes appears to be a growing problem in the African region. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of diabetes in Zimbabwe by collating and analyzing previously published data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review and meta-analysis of data reporting prevalence of diabetes in Zimbabwe was conducted based on the random effects model. We searched for studies published between January 1960 and December 2013 using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus and University of Zimbabwe electronic publication libraries. In the meta-analysis, sub-groups were created for studies conducted before 1980 and after 1980, to understand the potential effect of independence on prevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis with a total of 29,514 study participants. The overall pooled prevalence of diabetes before 1980 was 0.44% (95% CI 0.0-1.9%), after 1980 the pooled prevalence was 5.7% (95% CI 3.3-8.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that the prevalence of diabetes in Zimbabwe has increased significantly over the past three decades. This poses serious challenges to the provision of care and prevention of disabling co-morbidities in an already disadvantaged healthcare setting.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 89 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia, mutsa.mutowo@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Mutsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mutowo
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gowda
authors.forename: John Chamunorwa
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mangwiro
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lorgelly
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renzaho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology