Category Archives: Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
Can ChatGPT match physicians in the diagnosis, triage, management and prevention of infectious diseases? A scoping review
INTRODUCTION: The global burden of infectious diseases (ID), combined with a shortage of ID specialists, continues to challenge healthcare systems worldwide. Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models such as...
Effectiveness of HIV status disclosure interventions among children and adolescents in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Appropriate pediatric HIV status disclosure remains a public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review aims to describe the existing pediatric HIV disclosure interventions in LMICs...
Simulation modeling for the design and evaluation of HIV drug resistance interventions: A systematic review of literature
Background The utility of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is being challenged by growing HIV drug resistance (HIVDR). Although simulation modelling is useful for...
Integration of HIV, Hepatitis B, and C, and sexually transmitted infections services: A scoping review of the benefits and challenges
BACKGROUND: Integrating clinical programs and services is a cost-effective approach that can improve health and system outcomes. This review aimed to provide an overview of the benefits and challenges of...
Interventions to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
OBJECTIVE: Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) face barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, negatively affecting their health and quality of life. These challenges are particularly pronounced in...
Prevalence and risk factors for cytomegalovirus retinitis among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa in the antiretroviral therapy era: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Cytomegalovirus retinitis has remained an alarming and potentially vision-threatening opportunistic disease in the population living with HIV, especially in cases of extreme immunosuppression. Although the introduction of antiretroviral therapy has...
Exploring the potential of cognitive intra-individual variability in HIV care and research in adults with HIV: A concept analysis
Cognitive intraindividual variability (IIV) refers to the variability in one’s ability to sustain consistent cognitive performance. This phenomenon is linked to the emergence of cognitive impairment and dementia. The aim...
Effectiveness of digital health interventions for improving antiretroviral therapy outcomes in people with HIV: Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials
Background: Digital health interventions (DHIs) are increasingly used to support antiretroviral therapy (ART) management among people living with HIV. However, existing systematic reviews have largely focused on single intervention types or...
The burden of HIV-related stigma on clinical and quality of life outcomes: results from a systematic literature review
BACKGROUND: HIV-related stigma adversely impacts people with HIV. As part of a systematic literature review (SLR) to evaluate 6 research questions on HIV-related stigma among people with HIV, data from...
Structural competency as a global framework for syndemic HIV care: A critical synthesis
The co-occurrence of HIV with mental health disorders, substance use, and tuberculosis continues to constitute significant global public health issues. Syndemic theory elucidates how these conditions interact synergistically to exacerbate...
Peer-led models for improving HIV treatment and care outcomes among adolescents and young people living with HIV in eastern and southern Africa: A rapid review
Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV have poor levels of adherence to treatment and retention in care. Previous reviews highlighted the need for high-quality evidence on peer-led interventions for...
Optimising post-delivery viral load monitoring and HIV care to eliminate breastfeeding-associated HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa: A review
Sustained maternal HIV viral-load (VL) suppression during breastfeeding is essential for eliminating vertical HIV transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although vertical transmission prevention programmes have improved antiretroviral therapy coverage and peripartum...
