Category Archives: Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
Adolescent condom use in Southern Africa: Narrative systematic review and conceptual model of multilevel barriers and facilitators
BACKGROUND: Adolescent HIV and pregnancy rates in Southern Africa are amongst the highest in the world. Despite decades of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programming targeting adolescents, recent trends suggest...
Are psychosocial interventions effective at increasing condom use among Black men? A systematic review
Black men experience a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United Kingdom (UK). STIs can seriously affect the health and well-being of affected individuals. With condoms effective...
Acceptability and uptake of HIV self-testing in emergency care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Emergency departments (ED) interface with large numbers of patients that are often missed by conventional HIV testing approaches. ED-based HIV self-testing (HIVST) is an innovative engagement approach which has potential...
Promoting safer sex in the context of heterosexual anal intercourse: A scoping review
Aims and objectives: To locate and summarise existing literature regarding safer sex practices specific to heterosexual anal intercourse and identify promising health promotion strategies. Background: Much of the literature regarding anal intercourse...
Prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and suicide plan among HIV/AIDS: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Suicidality is common in people living with HIV/AIDS. However, the prevalence estimates of the suicidality vary between studies. Here, we performed a systematic review and estimated the prevalence of...
Prevalence and factors associated with common mental disorders in young people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
INTRODUCTION: Common mental disorders (CMDs) particularly depression and anxiety, are highly comorbid with HIV also in young people living with HIV (YLWH). In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where most YLWH reside,...
Motherhood and decision-making among women living with HIV in developed countries: A systematic review with qualitative research synthesis
BACKGROUND: Women living with HIV (WLH) lack evidence-based information about reproductive options while managing pressures from family, clinicians, and communities to give up the idea of having children. As the...
Barriers and facilitators for early and exclusive breastfeeding in health facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa carries a disproportionate burden of under-five child deaths in the world and appropriate breastfeeding practices can support efforts to reduce child mortality rates. Health facilities are important...
The HIV care cascade in sub-Saharan Africa: Systematic review of published criteria and definitions
INTRODUCTION: The HIV care cascade examines the attrition of people living with HIV from diagnosis to the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and suppression of viral replication. We reviewed the...
Effectiveness of spatially targeted interventions for control of HIV, tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: As infectious diseases approach global elimination targets, spatial targeting is increasingly important to identify community hotspots of transmission and effectively target interventions. We aimed to synthesise relevant evidence to...
How women’s experiences and perceptions of care influence uptake of postnatal care across sub-Saharan Africa: A qualitative systematic review
BACKGROUND: The burden of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality is a global health concern with the highest burden documented after childbirth in women and babies living in sub-Saharan Africa....
