Tuberculosis in Saharia Tribe (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) of India: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in India, particularly among vulnerable populations. The Saharia tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), faces a disproportionately high TB burden. This study aimed to systematically review and quantify the TB burden among the Saharia tribe through meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Studies reporting TB prevalence in the Saharia tribe were included. The quality of included studies was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled TB prevalence. Heterogeneity was assessed using I statistics, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots.

RESULTS

Eight studies encompassing 163,562 Saharia individuals were included. The pooled TB prevalence was 2,416 per 100,000 population (95% CI: 1,827-3,004 per 100,000). Significant heterogeneity was observed (I = 98.67%, p < 0.05). Sensitivity analysis revealed no significant influence of individual studies on the overall prevalence estimate.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis reveals an alarmingly high TB prevalence among the Saharia tribe, far exceeding the national average. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, improved healthcare access, and culturally sensitive TB control programs for this vulnerable population.