OBJECTIVES: To comprehensively analyze the burden and identify factors contributing Drug Therapy Problem (DTP) in Ethiopia.

METHODS: This was in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE). A systematic search was employed at PubMed/Medline and Google Scholar to collect relevant records. Primary studies published between 2010 and 2019 in English language from Ethiopia were included for the study. Two reviewers carried out the initial screening and extraction, and assessed quality of articles independently. A predefined data extraction checklist was prepared to collect equivalent data from each study. A random pooled prevalence, heterogeneity level and publication bias was analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 17,951 records were identified; eighteen studies were eligible and included in the Systematic review and Meta-analysis. All eighteen studies were reported from hospitals which provide follow up service. Among 4175 participants included 2629 patients had faced one or more DTP. The random pooled prevalence of DTP was found 67.4% (95% CI, 58.4%-75.2 %) at heterogeneity level I²=96.8% (degree of freedom = 17 and p value = 0.000). Sub-group analysis was undergone by age and type of disease. Multiple medication use, co-morbidities, age, marital status, stage of disease, length of hospital stay, negative beliefs of medications and poor patient involvement in therapeutic decision making were among the main contributing factors to DTP.

CONCLUSIONS: A high burden of DTP was found in Ethiopia. Various factors were responsible for the development of DTP. Appropriate strategies and interventions are urgently required to prevent DTP and optimize patient treatment outcome.