Category Archives: Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
Cryptococcal antigenemia and its predictors among HIV infected patients in resource limited settings: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that primarily affects people with advanced HIV/AIDS and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe. By far the most...
A systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between urogenital schistosomiasis and HIV/AIDS infection
BACKGROUND: Urogenital schistosomiasis and HIV/AIDS infections are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. The co-occurrence of both diseases has led to the possible hypothesis that...
The prevalence of cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) and benefits of pre-emptive antifungal treatment among HIV-infected persons with CD4+ T-cell counts < 200 cells/muL: Evidence based on a meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Current WHO guidelines (2018) recommend screening for cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) in HIV-infected persons with CD4+ T cell counts< 100 cells/muL, followed by pre-emptive antifungal therapy among CrAg positive (CrAg+)...
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus in transgender persons: A systematic review
Purpose: Despite reportedly high rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among transgender people, laboratory-proven prevalence of these infections in this population has not been...
Cryptococcal meningitis: A review of cryptococcal antigen screening programs in Africa
INTRODUCTION: Cryptococcal meningitis remains a significant contributor to AIDS-related mortality despite widened access to antiretroviral therapy. Cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) can be detected in the blood prior to development of meningitis....
Screening algorithms to reduce burden of pediatric HIV testing: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: The accuracy of symptom screening to identify children eligible for further HIV testing in generalized epidemics has been examined in several studies. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis...
Unknown HIV status and the TB/HIV collaborative control program in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Ethiopia has shown significant efforts to address the burden of TB/HIV comorbidity through the TB/HIV collaborative program. However, these diseases are still the highest cause of death in the...
Impact of male circumcision on risk of HIV infection in men in a changing epidemic context — Systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: WHO/UNAIDS recommended Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in 2007 based on systematic review of observational studies prior to 1999 and three randomized controlled trials (RCTs). To inform updated WHO guidance,...
A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions for orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide
BACKGROUND: Worldwide, there are more than 13.3 million orphans and vulnerable children affected by Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) (HIV OVC), defined as individuals below...
A realist systematic review of stigma reduction interventions for HIV prevention and care continuum outcomes among men who have sex with men
While stigma associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) is well recognized, there remains relatively limited intervention data on effective stigma reduction...
Food insecurity and the risk of depression in people living with HIV/AIDS: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: The link between food insecurity and depression in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has been explored in numerous studies; however, the existing evidence is inconclusive due to inconsistent results....
