Anemia and associated factors among women with cancer patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Anemia is a major complication associated with cancer that can lead to various side effects in patients. It is caused by multiple factors and has a significant impact on public health. Although anemia frequently occurs during cancer treatment and can affect the prognosis of female cancer patients, data are scarce regarding its prevalence and related factors among female cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES

To assess methodologically the occurrence of anemia and its causes in female cancer patients in Ethiopia.

DESIGN

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

DATA SOURCES AND METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed for this review. A total of 5249 articles were retrieved using Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and National Digital Library repositories from December 1, 2024, to May 30, 2025. In addition, searches were conducted on Google Scholar and from Ethiopian university research repositories, supplemented by manual reference checks. Data extraction were carried out using an Excel form and subsequently imported into STATA version 11for analysis. Techniques such as forest plots, Cochran's Q test, and subgroup analysis were utilized to evaluate heterogeneity among the included studies. Publication bias was examined through funnel plots and Egger's regression test. The random effects model was implemented to estimate the outcome variables.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies involving 8672 participants were included in this review. The overall pooled prevalence of anemia among women with cancer was 41.48% (95% confidence interval 34.10, 48.87). Advanced cancer stage (>2), use of high number of cycles of chemotherapy, and long duration of cancer (more than 12 months) were identified as significant determinants.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined prevalence of anemia in female cancer patients was significant. Therefore, individuals displaying the aforementioned risk factors should be closely monitored. Preventive strategies are encompass optimizing nutritional status and addressing deficiencies in iron, folate, or vitamin B12. Healthcare providers properly align with the treatment protocols of cancer patients to effectively prevent complications arising from chemotherapy. Such alignment ensures a comprehensive approach to patient care, ultimately enhancing treatment outcomes and quality of life. The study is registered in the PROSPERO database under the number CRD42024569783.