Category Archives: Health services
Community-based rapid testing for HIV in Europe and Central Asia: A narrative review of models, effectiveness, and implementation challenges
This narrative review examines the evolution, implementation, and impact of Community-Based HIV Testing (CBT) across Europe and Central Asia (ECA), a region where late diagnosis remains a persistent challenge and...
Integrating smoking cessation into HIV care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness and the evidence gap in cost-effectiveness
The prevalence of smoking among people living with HIV (PLWH) is higher than in the general population, and PLWH who smoke are at increased risk of both smoking- and HIV-related...
Integrated care models for HIV, diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of effectiveness, implementation and real-world applicability
Background Sub-Saharan Africa faces a syndemic of HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes and hypertension. Integrated care models have been promoted to improve service efficiency and patient outcomes; however,...
Area-based measures of socioeconomic status in studies assessing health outcomes among people living with HIV in Canada and the USA: A scoping review
OBJECTIVE: Area-based measures of socioeconomic status (SES) are increasingly used to study health disparities among people living with HIV (PLWH), with wide variation in how they are defined and applied...
Assessing the impact, barriers and facilitators of peer-driven interventions on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: Peer interventions may improve retention across the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) cascade in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains a major barrier....
Breastfeeding practices and perspectives in the setting of maternal HIV in high-income countries since the shift in the United States national guidelines: A scoping review
Introduction: United States national guidelines around infant feeding in the setting of maternal HIV were updated significantly in 2023. The updated guidelines encourage evidence-based counseling and emphasize shared decision-making around infant...
The role of religion and spirituality in HIV prevention: A systematic literature review and network analysis
Religion and spirituality play an important role in shaping attitudes, beliefs, social norms, and preventive behaviors related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention across diverse populations and cultural settings. This...
Mapping psychosocial interventions for mental health and well-being among pregnant women living with HIV: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Pregnant women living with HIV are at increased risk of depression, anxiety, stigma, gender-based violence, and poor engagement in prevention of mother-to-child transmission services. Psychosocial interventions are increasingly used...
Housing instability as a barrier to HIV viral suppression: Evidence from a U.S. systematic review and meta-analysis
Housing instability and homelessness remain pervasive structural determinants of poor HIV outcomes in the United States. People living with HIV (PLWH) who experience homelessness face intersecting barriers, including stigma, behavioral...
Global prevalence and biopsychosocial correlates of psychological distress among people living with HIV: An updated theory-informed meta-analysis
Introduction: Psychological distress (PD) is common among people living with HIV (PLWH), but prevalence estimates vary substantially. This study aimed to synthesize the prevalence of PD among PLWH and examine...
Family-centred care for children and adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
Introduction Children and adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continue to face significant barriers to diagnosis, treatment adherence, retention in care and psychosocial support, despite progress in prevention...
Barriers and facilitators to preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
Women account for 59% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection cases in sub-Saharan Africa. This impacts the increase in mother-to-child HIV transmission rates and presents challenges to preventive care for...
