Category Archives: Determinants of Health
Prevalence of mental health problems in people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
HIV remains a significant public health concern, with an estimation of 39 million people infected. There is a lack of universally accepted benchmarks for prevalence of mental health problems among...
The long-term health outcomes of people living with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus: A scoping review
Since the first reported cases of perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 1982, a generation born with HIV has reached adulthood. The authors conducted a scoping review of PubMed...
The burden of menstrual irregularities among women living with HIV in Nigeria: A comprehensive review
BACKGROUND: Menstrual irregularities significantly distress women living with HIV (WLHIV), impacting their reproductive health and quality of life. Although the underlying mechanism remains inconclusive, studies have outlined possible contributory factors....
Adverse perinatal outcomes associated with different classes of antiretroviral drugs in pregnant women with HIV
Objective: Women with HIV (WHIV) are at an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes compared to women without HIV, despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). There is evidence that the risk of...
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV care continuum and associated factors in middle-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review
INTRODUCTION: The HIV care continuum during the COVID-19 era faced specific challenges. The pandemic, affecting the delivery of HIV care, exacerbated existing healthcare inequities and vulnerabilities in middle-income countries with...
Non-pharmaceutical interventions for people living with HIV with cognitive impairment: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment (CI) in HIV is often of multifactorial causation, and remains a prominent issue in the age of effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), affecting approximately 14% of people...
The impact of undernutrition and anemia on HIV-related mortality among children on ART in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Although there have been significant advancements in providing HIV-infected children with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), the mortality rates have remained unacceptably high. Inadequate nutrient intake or absorption is...
Interventions to ensure access to and continuity of HIV care for international migrants: An evidence synthesis
International migrants, especially those belonging to key populations, face a considerable HIV burden. However, continuity of HIV care for this group is often challenged along the migration route. We assess...
Men who have sex with men perceiving that sex with women carries the greatest risk of HIV acquisition: Results from a mixed-methods systematic review in sub-Saharan Africa
INTRODUCTION: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), men who have sex with men (MSM) often have female sexual partners. Their overall risk of acquiring HIV is higher with male partners. Risk perception...
“It’s like it’s the old boys club”—The age-related experiences of diverse older women living with HIV: A scoping review and consultative exercise
Objectives HIV is often under-recognized in older individuals, particularly women, despite a significant number of new cases being diagnosed in those aged >50 years. This review aimed to understand the age-related...
Uptake and acceptability of HIV self-testing among pregnant and postpartum women and their male partners in sub-Saharan Africa: Benefits, challenges, and delivery strategies
BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) offers a novel solution for increasing HIV testing among pregnant and postpartum women and their male partners, especially in low-resource settings. These groups often face barriers...
Acceptability and feasibility of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Southeast Asia: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: The availability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Southeast Asia remains limited compared to regions like Western Europe or North America. Additionally, little is known about how key populations...
