Category Archives: Epidemiology
Recent levels and trends in HIV incidence rates among adolescent girls and young women in ten high-prevalence African countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: The roll-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has changed contexts of HIV risk, but the influence on HIV incidence among young women is not clear. We aimed to summarise direct...
HIV prevalence among tuberculosis patients in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
HIV associated tuberculosis (TB) morbidity and mortality is a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the level of HIV infection among TB patients is vital for adequate response. We conducted...
Use of an indeterminate range in HIV early infant diagnosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Expanded access to HIV antiretrovirals has dramatically reduced mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, there is increasing concern around false-positive HIV test results in perinatally HIV-exposed infants but few insights...
High HIV and active tuberculosis prevalence and increased mortality risk in adults with symptoms of TB: A systematic review and meta-analyses
INTRODUCTION: HIV and tuberculosis (TB) remain leading causes of preventable death in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends HIV testing for all individuals with TB...
Global population-level association between herpes simplex virus 2 prevalence and HIV prevalence
BACKGROUND: Our objective was to assess the population-level association between herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) and HIV prevalence. METHODS: Reports of HSV-2 and HIV prevalence were systematically reviewed and synthesized...
Abnormal QTc syndrome in HIV-infected patients: A systematic review of prevalence and risk factors
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this review is to critically analyze data regarding the prevalence and risk factors for developing a prolonged QTc interval and subsequent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in...
Risk factors for infectious diseases in urban environments of sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence
Our world is rapidly urbanizing. According to the United Nations, between 1990 and 2015, the percent of the world’s population living in urban areas grew from 43% to 54%. Estimates...
Risk of myocardial infarction among people living with HIV: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis
OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading non-AIDS-defining causes of death among HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals. However, the evidence surrounding specific components of CVD risk remains inconclusive. We conducted...
The HIV-related risk factors of the cisgender male sexual partners of transgender women (MSTW) in the United States: A systematic review of the literature
Cisgender male sexual partners of transgender women (MSTW) may be at risk for HIV infection. We performed a review of HIV risk factors among MSTW. We searched PubMed database for...
The protective effect of isoniazid preventive therapy on tuberculosis incidence among HIV positive patients receiving ART in Ethiopian settings: A meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV makeup a deadly synergy of infectious disease, and the combined effect is apparent in resource limited countries like Ethiopia. Previous studies have demonstrated inconsistent results...
