Category Archives: Determinants of Health
Vulnerability and non-adherence to treatment in cisgender women living with HIV/AIDS: A scoping review (2000–2024)
Background Cisgender women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS due to structural gender inequalities and intersecting social determinants, which generate vulnerability contexts that act as barriers to treatment adherence. Methods A...
Knowledge of reproductive-age women about mother-to-child transmission of HIV and associated factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: Despite significant efforts to manage and prevent HIV, knowledge gaps persist regarding mother-to-child transmission of HIV among women of reproductive age. Previous studies, limited in scope and producing inconsistent...
Virologic suppression among HIV-positive pregnant and lactating women receiving antiretroviral therapy in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a key global public health priority. In Africa, virologic failure among people living with HIV continues to pose a...
Peer network approaches for improving HIV testing, prevention and care utilisation among men in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
INTRODUCTION: Limited male engagement in HIV prevention and care is a global challenge more pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) contributing to ongoing transmission. However, peer network interventions show promise in...
Barriers and facilitators to the diagnosis of HIV and other STIs in primary care within publicly funded healthcare systems: A systematic review of qualitative studies
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a major public health concern. Primary care (PC) is the ideal setting for their diagnosis. Designing effective strategies...
Evaluating the effectiveness of digital health interventions for HIV prevention and treatment adherence among transgender populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Transgender individuals face a disproportionate burden of HIV due to systemic barriers including stigma, discrimination, and limited access to gender-affirming healthcare. Digital health interventions (DHIs), such as mobile applications,...
HIV in Iraq: Key populations, sociodemographics, transmission modes, present realities, and urgent next steps: A systematic review
Background and Purpose While empirical studies in Iraq have examined sociodemographic characteristics and modes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, including but not limited to those involving key populations, there...
Effect of BMI on mortality in patients with tuberculosis and HIV coinfection in Asia and Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a major global health threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. An estimated 10.8 million people developed TB in 2023, corresponding to 134 cases...
Age-specific distribution of cervical precancer and cancer among women living with HIV across seven countries: A systematic review and an individual patient data meta-analysis
Background Women living with HIV have an elevated risk for cervical cancer, present earlier, and have more recurrent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections compared with women without HIV. To update WHO recommendations...
Perceptions about the relationship between HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and fecundity in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from a systematic scoping review
Advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) enable women living with HIV to safely conceive and give birth without vertical transmission. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, 1 in 6 people experience infertility and...
Obstetric nurses’ approach to evidence-based practice in breastfeeding within the context of HIV: A scoping review
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Human immunodeficiency virus remains a significant public health challenge, with breastfeeding contributing to the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Although antiretroviral therapy significantly reduces this risk, obstetric nurses face complex...
