AUTHOR=Mislu Esuyawkal , Assalfew Betel , Arage Mulugeta Wodaje , Chane Fiker , Hailu Tilahun , Tenaw Lebeza Alemu , Kidie Atitegeb Abera , Kumsa Henok 

TITLE=Prevalence and factors associated with restless legs syndrome among pregnant women in middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1326337

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2023.1326337

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Introduction: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a debilitating condition characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs, typically occurring during periods of rest or sleep. It is more prevalent during pregnancy and is linked to sleep disturbances, diminished quality of life, and pregnancy complications. However, previous studies yielded inconsistent findings among pregnant women in middle-income countries. Consequently, this systematic review and metaanalysis sought to determine the pooled prevalence of restless leg syndrome and its associated factors in these populations.A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on published studies from middleincome countries until May 2023. The review strictly adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Relevant search terms were used to search for studies in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Data extraction was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool for prevalence studies. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 17 software, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I 2 test, while publication bias was evaluated using Egger's test. Forest plots were also used to present the pooled prevalence and odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random effects model.Result: This review included 22 studies from nine countries were used with a total of 17, 580 study participants. The overall pooled prevalence of RLS among pregnant women in middle-income