Category Archives: Epidemiology and Determinants of Health
Knowledge, attitudes, and willingness of healthcare workers to offer pre-exposure prophylaxis in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Despite advancements in HIV prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), uptake remains suboptimal in high-burden regions like Africa. Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a pivotal role in PrEP implementation. This...
Mental health interventions for young pepole living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
Introduction: Young people (aged 15-24) living with HIV/AIDS (YPLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) experience higher rates of mental health conditions compared to their uninfected peers. Research and practitioners have expressed...
Effects of test-and-treat versus preexposure prophylaxis on elimination of HIV transmission: Analysis of 24 HIV prevention trials
INTRODUCTION: In 2023, 28.8 million (72%) of 39.9 million people with HIV (PWH) worldwide were on treatment with viral suppression, while 11.1 million (28%) people had viraemia with the risk...
Descriptions of risks and benefits of HIV vaccine trials in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs): An integrative review
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine trials are needed in efforts to prevent infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Like other types of research, HIV vaccine trials present benefits and risks...
Association between baseline HIV-1 DNA levels and clinical outcomes in people living with HIV: A meta-analysis of cohort studies
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effect of digital communication tools (e.g., text message reminders) on improving daily oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence. Searching PubMed, Embase, Web of...
Analysis of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on syphilis in susceptible populations: Me who have sex with men, people living with HIV, and patients with gestational and congenital syphilis—A narrative review
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a public health crisis that significantly impacted sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly syphilis. However, data on syphilis incidence during the pandemic remains inconsistent globally. Key groups...
Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and its associated factors in Ethiopia: A recent systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease and is a growing concern in low-income countries, including Ethiopia. Different studies have been...
Preexposure prophylaxis and intimate partner violence among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: A global scoping review of the literature
Men who have sex with men (MSM) experience intimate partner violence (IPV) and are at an elevated risk of HIV acquisition. Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective preventative measure against...
Utilization of cervical cancer screening and its associated factors among women living with HIV in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Women living with HIV (WLHIV), mostly in East Africa, are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer and are a priority population for secondary prevention. Numerous primary studies...
Characterizing the HIV care continuum among children and adolescents with HIV in eastern and southern Africa in the era of “Universal Test and Treat”: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: The “Universal Test and Treat” (UTT) era for antiretroviral therapy (ART) increased HIV service delivery to children and adolescents aged 0-19 with HIV. The goal is to reach %95%...
Free antiretrovirals as a key tool against the HIV pandemic: A systematic review
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Access to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs remains a critical challenge in achieving the WHO/UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, with medication costs representing a substantial barrier. This systematic review evaluates the effect of...
