Background: The prevalence of
Helicobacter pylori infection is reported variously in different studies in Iran. These study aimed to determine the prevalence of
Helicobacter pylori infection in children in Iran. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Medline, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google scholar systematically from Jan ۱۹۹۰ to up to December ۲۰۲۰. "Helicobacter pylori", "Child", "H. pylori", "Campylobacter pylori" and "Iran" were used for search. All English-language articles associated with the prevalence of H. pylori performed in
Iran were evaluated, and after passing the qualification assessment (Newcastle –Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale), these were entered into the analysis. The prevalence of H. pylori in children at a ۹۵% confidence interval was estimated using a random-effect model. Results: The search initially identified a total of ۷۷۸ publications, and finally, ۴۳ studies involving ۱۶,۹۳۹ children were included. The pooled prevalence of H. pylori infection in Iranian children is estimated as ۴۳% (I۲=۹۸.۱, p=۰.۰۰۱). Based on the diagnostic methods, the pooled prevalence in the group with stool antigen evaluation was ۴۴% (I۲=۹۹%, p=۰.۰۰۱), the pooled prevalence in the serology evaluation group was ۴۰% (I۲=۹۶%, p=۰.۰۰۱), in the biopsy group, ۵۰%, in Rapid urease test/ urea breath test ۴۰%, and in combined diagnostic tests group ۵۶% (I۲=۸۴.۵%, p=۰.۰۰۱), and in the not determined group the pooled estimate was ۲۶%. The heterogeneity between groups was significant (p <۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: The pooled prevalence of H. pylori infection in children in
Iran is estimated as ۴۳%, which has been higher than the global prevalence. Also, a higher prevalence rate was reported in studies in which the diagnostic test was a biopsy.