Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Tanzania: a systematic review of prevalence and incidence

Objective Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic disease that affects children and adolescents globally. However, there is a paucity of data on the incidence and prevalence T1DM in Tanzania. This systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence and incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus Tanzania through a comprehensive review of available literature. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in six electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, African Journals Online, and Tanzania Medical Journal) to identify studies reporting on the prevalence and incidence of T1DM in Tanzania. The search was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Results A total of 63 studies were identified through the initial search, of which two studies met the inclusion criteria. Both studies were conducted in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro Tanzania, and reported on the incidence and prevalence of T1DM in children and adolescents. The studies were published in 1993 and 2019, respectively. The first study reported an annual incidence of T1DM of 1.5 per 100,000 population aged 0-19 years, while the second study reported an annual incidence ranging from 1.8 to 1.9 per 100,000 children and a prevalence ranging from 10.1 to 11.9 per 100,000 children. Conclusion The prevalence and incidence of T1DM in Tanzania are relatively low, based on the limited evidence available. More prevalence and incidence studies are needed to provide a better understanding of the burden of T1DM to inform diabetes management strategies in the country. Ethics Since this review has used previously published studies, consent of an ethics committee was not sought. PROSPERO registration number CRD42022369954.