Abstract:
Background. Hepatitis C virus is a highly genetically heterogenous bloodborne pathogen that is responsible for acute and chronic
hepatitis. Globally, an estimated 71 million population is chronically infected with this virus from which 399,000 people die every
year. Its prevalence is high in Ethiopia and varies from region to region, even among different studies within a region. Methods.
Electronic databases, including Science Direct, Medline, HINARI, African Journals Online, TRIP database, African Index
Medicus, and Directory of Open Access Journals, searched from 2010 to 2020 and published articles were included. Due to
evidence of considerable heterogeneity, the pooled prevalence of anti-HCV was analyzed using the random-effects model. +e
possible sources of heterogeneity were analyzed through subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression. Funnel plots
and Egger’s test statistics were used to determine the presence of publication bias. Results. +e analysis of 56 articles showed that
the prevalence of anti-HCV in Ethiopia ranged from 0% to 22%. +e pooled prevalence estimated was 2% (95% CI 2.0–3.0), and
the meta-regression statistics indicated that the diagnostic method (p � 0.037), study group (p � 0.005), and level of bias (p �
0.035) showed statistically significant association with the outcome variable. +e sensitivity analysis claims no influence on the
overall effect estimate while removing a single study from the analysis at a time. Egger’s test statistics (p≤0.001) declare the
presence of publication bias that is handled using time and fill analysis. Conclusions. +e pooled prevalence of anti-HCV in
Ethiopia was high. Predictor variables, including the diagnostic method, study group, and level of bias, showed a statistically
significant relationship with the outcome variable. Strengthening the scope of existing prevention and control programs and
implementing novel approaches, including screen-and-treat, could significantly help to tackle this critical public health issue. +e
study provides a current estimate which is valuable for policymakers and other responsible bodies.
