Category Archives: Epidemiology
A systematic review of the frequency and correlates of partner abuse in HIV-infected women and men who partner with men
Partner abuse (PA) is a highly prevalent and devastating social phenomenon, extracting an economic toll of more than $8 billion annually in the United States due to lost productivity alone....
Hormonal contraception decreases bacterial vaginosis but oral contraception may increase candidiasis: Implications for HIV transmission
OBJECTIVE: A 2012 WHO consultation concluded that combined oral contraception (COC) does not increase HIV acquisition in women, but the evidence for depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is conflicting. We evaluated...
HIV-related behavioral studies of men who have sex with men in China: A systematic review and recommendations for future research
HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased significantly in China since early 2000, with MSM accounting for 32.5% of the newly infected HIV cases in...
Interferon-gamma release assays for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) have provided a new method for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. However, the role of IGRAs for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB), especially...
Is early sexual debut a risk factor for HIV infection among women in sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review
PROBLEM: In Africa, adolescent girls have high HIV risk. Early sexual debut may be a risk factor, although evidence has not been systematically compiled. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted....
Is HIV infection a risk factor for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis? A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of human suffering and death. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), and extensive drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) have emerged as threats...
Vertically acquired paediatric HIV infection: the challenges of providing comprehensive packages of care in resource-limited settings
The successes achieved in paediatric disease management in well-resourced countries in recent years highlight the vast divide between the care options, and ultimately survival, between developed and developing areas of...
Intravaginal practices, bacterial vaginosis, and women’s susceptibility to HIV infection: Epidemiological evidence and biological mechanisms
Intravaginal practices such as “dry sex” and douching have been suggested as a risk factor that may increase women’s susceptibility to HIV infection. These behaviours appear common in different populations...
