Category Archives: Epidemiology
Comparative risk of adverse perinatal outcomes associated with classes of antiretroviral therapy in pregnant women living with HIV: Systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended by World Health Organisation as preferred first-line regimen in pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)...
Estimates of the prevalence of male circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa from 2010–2023—A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Male circumcision (MC) is a key part of the package of interventions to prevent HIV, the biggest health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective To estimate the male circumcision prevalence...
Risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis recurrence, relapse and reinfection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: The rate of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) recurrence is substantial. Identifying risk factors can support the development of prevention strategies. METHODS: We retrieved studies published between 1 January 1980 and...
People who living with HIV/AIDS also have a high prevalence of anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: An estimated 301 million people worldwide suffer from anxiety disorders. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are particularly prone to anxiety disorders that could interfere with the important developmental process...
The level of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among orphan children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Many children and adolescents living with HIV have ended up as orphans. Due to HIV taking away their parents leaves them deprived of their most important social network and...
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among high-risk population in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Globally, 38.4 million people are affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic, and more than 2.5 million new HIV infections occur yearly. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been widely...
Systematic review: Strategies for improving HIV testing and detection rates in European hospitals
Undiagnosed HIV infection is a prominent clinical issue throughout Europe that requires the continuous attention of all healthcare professionals and policymakers to prevent missed testing opportunities and late diagnosis. This...
Same-day ART initiation, loss to follow-up and viral load suppression among people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries: Systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: in 2015, the World Health Organization recommended early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation after HIV diagnosis. Mixed results on the effect of same-day ART initiation (SDI) over non-same-day ART initiation...
Association of vitamin D with HIV infected individuals, TB infected individuals, and HIV-TB co-infected individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is a worldwide disease. VDD is also associated with an increased risk of HIV-related comorbidities and mortality, and patients have a tendency to develop active...
The effect of HIV and mpox co-infection on clinical outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: Co-infection with HIV and mpox is a significant issue for public health because of the potential combined impact on clinical outcomes. However, the existing literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of...
