Category Archives: Epidemiology
HIV incidence estimation using the BED capture enzyme immunoassay: Systematic review and sensitivity analysis
BACKGROUND: HIV incidence estimates are essential for understanding the evolution of the HIV epidemic and the impact of interventions. Tests for recent HIV infection allow incidence estimation based on a...
Decline in HIV prevalence among young women in Zambia: National-level estimates of trends mask geographical and socio-demographic differences
A decline in HIV incidence has been reported in Zambia and a number of other sub-Saharan countries. The trend of HIV prevalence among young people is a good marker of...
What is the potential for bisexual men in China to act as a bridge of HIV transmission to the female population? Behavioural evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Background: HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China has rapidly increased in recent years. It is suggested that MSM could be a potential bridge of...
Social science research on HIV in Vietnam: A critical review and future directions
Social science research can enhance the response to Vietnam’s growing HIV epidemic by capturing the country’s rapidly changing social and political context. The present paper reviews the published, peer-reviewed and...
Impact of parent-child communication interventions on sex behaviors and cognitive outcomes for black/African-American and Hispanic/Latino youth: A systematic review, 1988-2012
PURPOSE: We reviewed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infection (STI)- behavioral interventions implemented with disproportionately affected black/African-American and Hispanic/Latino youth and designed to improve parent-child communications about sex....
Peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C in patients eligible for shortened treatment, re-treatment or in HCV/HIV co-infection: A systematic review and economic evaluation
OBJECTIVE: to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for the treatment of chronic hepatitis c virus (HCV) in three specific patient subgroups affected by recent...
HIV and syphilis co-infection increasing among men who have sex with men in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: This study aims to estimate the magnitude and changing trends of HIV, syphilis and HIV-syphilis co-infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China during 2003-2008 through...
Provider-initiated testing and counselling programmes in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of their operational implementation
OBJECTIVE: The routine offer of an HIV test during patient-provider encounters is gaining momentum within HIV treatment and prevention programmes. This review examined the operational implementation of provider-initiated testing and...
Can hepatitis C virus prevalence be used as a measure of injection-related human immunodeficiency virus risk in populations of injecting drug users? An ecological analysis
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreaks occur among injecting drug users (IDUs), but where HIV is low insight is required into the future risk of increased transmission. The relationship between...
Impact of hepatitis B virus infection on the progression of AIDS and mortality in HIV-infected individuals: A cohort study and meta-analysis
Background. The effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on the natural history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease remains uncertain. Therefore, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine...
