Background and aims: In Ethiopia, pre-labor rupture of membranes impacts maternal and perinatal health, while maternal undernutrition remains a major public health issue. The findings of previous studies have been inconsistent, and no nationwide pooled data exist. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the association between maternal undernutrition and pre-labor rupture of membranes in Ethiopia.

Methods: Comprehensive and systematic searches were conducted across various databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Hinari, and ScienceDirect. The data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed with STATA version 17. The risk of bias and certainty of the evidence were evaluated. Heterogeneity was assessed using I ² statistics, and a random effects model was employed to estimate the pooled effect size (odds ratio) with a 95% CI. A funnel plot and Egger's test were also used to assess potential publication bias.

Results: A total of twelve observational studies, involving 4016 participants, were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Most studies showed a low risk of bias and a moderate level of certainty in the evidence. The pooled results indicated a significant association between maternal undernutrition and pre-labor rupture of membranes in Ethiopia (pooled OR = 3.24; 95% CI: 2.08-5.06), with substantial heterogeneity (I ² = 74.9%, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of the pooled estimates, and no publication bias was detected.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis shows a significant association between maternal undernutrition and an increased risk of pre-labor rupture of membranes in Ethiopia. Therefore, health institutions should assess the nutritional status of pregnant women during prenatal visits for counseling and supplementation programs. Policymakers need to develop public health policies to address maternal nutrition. We recommend further research that explore the role of specific nutrient deficiencies in pre-labor rupture of membranes.

Review registration id: PROSPERO CRD42024579002.

Keywords: ethiopia; maternal undernutrition; meta‐analysis; pre‐labor rupture of membranes; systematic review.

© 2025 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

背景与目的：

在埃塞俄比亚，临产前胎膜早破影响母婴健康，而孕妇营养不良仍然是一个主要的公共卫生问题。以往研究的结果不一致，并且没有全国性的汇总数据存在。因此，本综述旨在调查埃塞俄比亚孕妇营养不良和临产前胎膜早破之间的关联。

方法：

在PubMed、Google Scholar、Hinari 和 ScienceDirect 等多个数据库中进行了全面和系统的检索。使用Microsoft Excel提取数据，并用STATA版本17进行分析。评估了偏倚风险和证据确定性的水平，使用I²统计量评估异质性，并采用随机效应模型估计汇总效应大小（比值比）及其95%的置信区间。还利用漏斗图和Egger检验来评估潜在的发表偏差。

结果：

本系统综述和荟萃分析共纳入了12项观察性研究，涉及4016名参与者。大多数研究显示低偏倚风险且证据水平中等。汇总结果显示，在埃塞俄比亚孕妇营养不良与临产前胎膜早破之间存在显著关联（汇总比值比=3.24；95%置信区间：2.08-5.06），具有较大的异质性(I² = 74.9%，p 结论：

本荟萃分析表明，埃塞俄比亚孕妇营养不良与临产前胎膜早破的风险增加之间存在显著关联。因此，卫生机构应在孕期检查期间评估孕妇的营养状况并提供咨询和补充计划。政策制定者需要开发公共卫生政策来解决孕妇营养问题。我们建议进一步研究探索特定营养素缺乏在临产前胎膜早破中的作用。

综述注册号：

PROSPERO CRD42024579002.

关键词：

埃塞俄比亚；孕妇营养不良；荟萃分析；临产前胎膜早破；系统评价。