Category Archives: Epidemiology
HIV testing uptake according to opt-In, opt-out or risk-based testing approaches: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose of review: Improving HIV testing uptake is essential to ending the HIV pandemic. HIV testing approaches can be opt-in, opt-out or risk-based. This systematic review examines and compares the uptake...
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence for community-based HIV testing on men’s engagement in the HIV care cascade
OBJECTIVE: Men with HIV are less likely than women to know their status, be on antiretroviral therapy, and be virally suppressed. This review examined men’s community-based HIV testing services (CB-HTS)...
The effect of protease inhibitors-based antiretroviral therapy on serum/plasma interleukin-6 levels among PLHIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Men who have sex with men (MSM) often change sexual behaviors following HIV diagnosis. This systematic review examined such changes, including sero-adaptive behaviors (i.e., deliberate safer-sex practices to reduce transmission...
Comparison of the efficacy and safety of a doravirine-based, three-drug regimen in treatment-naive HIV-1 positive adults: A bayesian network meta-analysis
Introduction: Extensive use of antiretroviral therapy has remarkably improved the survival rates of people living with HIV. Doravirine (DOR) is a newly-approved antiretroviral belonging to the class of non-nucleoside reverse...
Sexual practice changes post-HIV diagnosis among men who have sex with men in the United States: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Men who have sex with men (MSM) often change sexual behaviors following HIV diagnosis. This systematic review examined such changes, including sero-adaptive behaviors (i.e., deliberate safer-sex practices to reduce transmission...
Prevalence and distribution of selected cervical human papillomavirus types in HIV infected and HIV uninfected women in South Africa, 1989–2021: A narrative review
BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus infection, a causative agent of cervical cancer, is of great concern, more so in populations with high HIV prevalence, such as South Africa. AIM: This review aimed...
Adverse perinatal outcomes associated with protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy in pregnant women living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends protease inhibitor (PI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) as second-line and third-line regimens in pregnant women living with HIV (WLHIV). US, European, and UK guidelines include...
Effectiveness and safety of atazanavir use for the treatment of children and adolescents living with HIV: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Atazanavir/ritonavir is recommended as a preferred second-line antiretroviral regimen in children older than 3 months, alternatively to lopinavir/ritonavir. We performed a systematic review to assess safety and effectiveness of...
Benefits and risks of rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Objectives: To compare the benefits and risks between Rapid ART and standard/delayed treatment for HIV. Methods: Databases of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of science were searched from the inception to...
Blood-borne virus testing in emergency departments—A systematic review of seroprevalence, feasibility, acceptability and linkage to care
BACKGROUND: Blood-borne viruses (BBVs) cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Emergency departments (EDs) offer a point of contact for groups at increased risk of BBVs who may be less likely...
Dolutegravir monotherapy as maintenance strategy: A meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomized controlled trials
Background Dolutegravir monotherapy (DTG-m) results in virological failure (VF) in some people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH). We sought to identify the independent factors associated with the risk of VF...
The effect of universal voluntary HIV counseling and testing on epidemiological, behavioral, and psychosocial outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
BACKGROUND: Despite progress in reducing global HIV-related mortality, the decrease in the rate of HIV incidence remains slow. As such, HIV testing remains crucial to the prevention of HIV and...
