Category Archives: Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
Counselling behavioural interventions for HIV, STI and viral hepatitis among key populations: A systematic review of effectiveness, values and preferences, and cost studies
INTRODUCTION: Key populations (sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, people in prisons and other closed settings, and trans and gender diverse individuals) are disproportionately...
The effect of HIV prevalence, CD4 counts and disease severity on the outcome of total knee arthroplasty for haemophilic arthropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose: End-stage knee arthropathy is a recognised complication of haemophilia. It is often treated by total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which is more technically challenging in patients with haemophilia (PwH). It remains...
Barriers and facilitators to anti-retroviral therapy adherence among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A mixed-methods systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) significantly affects adolescents globally, with the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) reporting a high burden of the disease. HIV testing, treatment, and retention to care are low...
Systematic review of alternative HIV preexposure prophylaxis care delivery models to improve preexposure prophylaxis services
Objectives: To identify types, evidence, and study gaps of alternative HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care delivery models in the published literature. Design: Systematic review and narrative synthesis. Methods: We searched in the US...
Efficacy and safety of long-acting cabotegravir versus oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-emtricitabine as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
WHO guidelines recommend daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of HIV in people at high risk of HIV infection. However, due to social,...
The importance of social engagement in the development of an HIV cure: A systematic review of stakeholder perspectives
As research into the development of an HIV cure gains prominence, assessing the perspectives of stakeholders becomes imperative. It empowers stakeholders to determine priorities and influence research processes. We conducted...
Alcohol use and associated risk factors among female sex workers in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Due to its widespread use in the sex work industry, female sex workers (FSWs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are at high risk of harmful alcohol use and associated...
Antivirals for prevention of hepatitis B virus mother-to-child transmission in human immunodeficiency virus positive pregnant women co-infected with hepatitis B virus
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection promotes an aggressive disease course of HBV infection. In the only available non-Cochrane systematic review on antiviral therapy during pregnancy for...
Clinical features of Cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and efficacy of the current therapy
Background: Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) is the most common and sight-threatening opportunistic retinal infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and several controversies remain to be settled. We aimed to summarize...
Weight and metabolic outcomes in naïve HIV patients treated with integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: The use of integrase inhibitor-based antiretroviral therapy could be associated with worse weight and metabolic outcomes in patients with HIV infection. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched from inception to...
The effects of cash transfer programmes on HIV/AIDS prevention and care outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies
Background: Poverty and social inequality are risk factors for poor health outcomes in patients with HIV/AIDS. In addition to eligibility, cash transfer programmes can be divided into two categories: those with...
