Category Archives: Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
The demographic and socioeconomic correlates of behavior and HIV infection status across sub-Saharan Africa
Background: Predisposition to become HIV positive (HIV + ) is influenced by a wide range of correlated economic, environmental, demographic, social, and behavioral factors. While evidence among a candidate handful have...
Determinants of voluntary counseling and testing service uptake among adult sub-Saharan Africans: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Objective: To examine the major determinants of VCT service uptake among adults in SSA. Methods: Electronic databases were searched to identify eligible English language publications. Reporting of the study selection...
Incidence and mortality of non-AIDS-defining cancers among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs) are now becoming a rising cause of morbidity among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. We conducted a systematic review...
Screening performance of C-reactive protein for active pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-positive patients: A systematic review with a meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of mortality worldwide. In the last years, resistant strains of the etiological agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, have emerged, thus demanding more triage tests...
Multimorbidity of communicable and non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review is to analyse existing evidence on prevalence, patterns, determinants, and healthcare challenges of communicable and non-communicable disease multimorbidity in low- and middle-income countries...
Safety and efficacy of abacavir for treating infants, children, and adolescents living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Abacavir is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor recommended in paediatric HIV care. We assessed the safety and efficacy profile of abacavir used in first, second, or subsequent lines of treatment...
Adherence to option B+ and its association with disclosure status and counseling among HIV-positive pregnant and lactating women in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the pooled estimate of option B+ level of adherence and its association with disclosure status and counseling among pregnant and lactation women...
Increased risk of sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men taking preexposure prophylaxis: A meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are a priority population for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. We summarized the surveillance data from the studies of MSM taking...
Prevalence and global trends of polypharmacy among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: There has been a rising prevalence of polypharmacy among people living with HIV (PLWH). Uncertainty however remains regarding the exact estimates of polypharmacy among these cohorts of patients. Methods: We conducted...
Measuring and addressing stigma within HIV interventions for people who use drugs: A scoping review of recent research
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Persistent stigma remains a crucial barrier to HIV prevention and treatment services among people who use drugs (PWUD), particularly for those living with or at-risk for HIV....
The global burden of cognitive impairment in people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Objective: While life expectancies of people with HIV (PWH) have increased through the successes of antiretroviral treatment, cognitive impairment remains a pressing concern. Prevalence estimates vary worldwide as different definitions for...
When law and science part ways: the criminalization of breastfeeding by women living with HIV
Stigma and discrimination are a constant reality for the 37.7 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) around the globe. Fear over vertical transmission has fuelled HIV criminalization: laws...
