Category Archives: Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
The epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus infection, sexually transmitted infections, and associated risk behaviors among men who have sex with men in the Mekong Subregion and China: implications for policy and programming
BACKGROUND: Little systematic knowledge is available regarding risk behaviors and the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) in populations of men having sex with men...
Vertically acquired paediatric HIV infection: the challenges of providing comprehensive packages of care in resource-limited settings
The successes achieved in paediatric disease management in well-resourced countries in recent years highlight the vast divide between the care options, and ultimately survival, between developed and developing areas of...
Barriers to access to antiretroviral treatment in developing countries: A review
OBJECTIVE: To present a review of barriers impeding people living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries from accessing treatment, and to make recommendations for further studies. METHODS: Electronic databases, websites of...
High HIV prevalence and risk of infection among rural-to-urban migrants in various migration stages in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Rural-to-urban migrants represent 17% of the total Chinese population and are considered a potential high-risk bridging population of HIV infection between urban and rural China. METHOD: Based on a...
Gender disparities in HIV infection among persons who inject drugs in Central Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
OBJECTIVE: Disparities in HIV infection, with females having higher rates of HIV infection than males, have been noted among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in many countries. We examined male/female...
Provider-initiated testing and counselling programmes in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of their operational implementation
OBJECTIVE: The routine offer of an HIV test during patient-provider encounters is gaining momentum within HIV treatment and prevention programmes. This review examined the operational implementation of provider-initiated testing and...
A systematic review of the impact of alcohol use disorders on HIV treatment outcomes, adherence to antiretroviral therapy and health care utilization
BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are highly prevalent and associated with non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy, decreased health care utilization and poor HIV treatment outcomes among HIV-infected individuals. OBJECTIVES: To systematically...
A systematic review and meta-analysis of behavioral interventions to reduce HIV risk behaviors of Hispanics in the United States and Puerto Rico
This systematic review examines the overall efficacy of HIV behavioral interventions designed to reduce HIV risk behaviors or incident sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among Hispanics residing in the United States...
Influence of mhealth interventions on gender relations in developing countries: A systematic literature review
INTRODUCTION: Research has shown that mHealth initiatives, or health programs enhanced by mobile phone technologies, can foster women’s empowerment. Yet, there is growing concern that mobile-based programs geared towards women...
A systematic review of heterosexual anal intercourse and its role in the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in Papua New Guinea
BACKGROUND: Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a high burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the highest adult HIV prevalence in the Pacific region. Despite this burden of disease, heterosexual...
