Table 4 Sub-group analysis of pooled prevalence estimation of bacterial contaminants in herbal medicines sold in E. Africa from the year 2000 to 2020

 Kenya

8

67.426(47.170 to 84.758) REF

96.51% (94.79 to 97.66)

< 0.0001

 Tanzania

2

50.183(1.493 to 98.595)

0.0011

98.44% (96.56 to 99.29)

< 0.0001

 Uganda

4

60.849(11.265 to 98.481)

0.11

99.3% (99.00 to 99.51)

< 0.0001

 2000 to 2015

9

59.190 (27.757 to 86.921)

98.76% (98.38 to 99.06)

< 0.0001

 2016 to 2020

5

69.284 (39.342 to 92.254)

0.0041

98.06% (96.99 to 98.75)

< 0.0001

 Topical

2

76.619 (26.948 to 99.976) REF

98.75% (97.38 to 99.40)

< 0.0001

 Not specified

5

57.453 (25.799 to 86.023)

0.0051

98.07% (97.01 to 98.75)

< 0.0001

 Oral

9

65.947 (35.521 to 90.467)

0.0001

98.76% (98.37 to 99.05)

< 0.0001

 Not specified

9

72.849(49.577 to 90.891) REF

98.29% (97.70 to 98.73)

< 0.0001

 HIV

2

48.294(17.905 to 79.405)

0.0004

88.87% (57.99 to 97.05)

0.0027

 Cough

2

48.987(0.713 to 99.587)

0.0009

98.30% (96.19 to 99.25)

< 0.0001

 Ulcers

2

62.077(9.259 to 99.575)

0.1114

96.06% (88.91 to 98.60)

< 0.0001

 Escherichia coli

11

61.839(35.576 to 84.833) REF

98.53% (98.10 to 98.86)

< 0.0001

 Salmonella spp.

5

37.653(16.424 to 61.75)

< 0.0001

96.13% (93.34 to 97.75)

< 0.0001

 Staphylococcus spp.

9

68.572(44.285 to 88.399)

0.0239

97.87% (97.07 to 98.45)

< 0.0001

 Pseudomonas spp.

2

38.66(14.352 to 66.491)

0.0002

84.83% (38.17 to 96.28)

0.0102

 Klebsiella spp.

6

78.616 (60.095 to 92.484)

< 0.0001

96.11% (93.66 to 97.61)

< 0.0001

 Shigella spp.

3

85.656 (80.908 to 89.603)

< 0.0001

43.8% (0.00 to 83.19)

0.1687

 Proteus spp.

2

86.774(81.822 to 90.789)

< 0.0001

25.96% (25.96 to 25.96)

0.2452

 Serratia spp.

2

86.774(81.822 to 90.789)

< 0.0001

25.96% (25.96 to 25.96)

0.2452

 Enterobacter spp.

4

87.575(70.410 to 97.903)

< 0.0001

93.71% (87.09 to 96.94)

< 0.0001

 Citrobacter spp.

2

94.893 (70.404 to 98.584)

< 0.0001

96.60% (90.80 to 98.74)

< 0.0001