Category Archives: Population(s)
Abnormal QTc syndrome in HIV-infected patients: A systematic review of prevalence and risk factors
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this review is to critically analyze data regarding the prevalence and risk factors for developing a prolonged QTc interval and subsequent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in...
Voluntary medical male circumcision and HIV infection among men who have sex with men: Implications from a systematic review
Background: With the rapidly-increased HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men worldwide, the effectiveness of voluntary medical male circumcision as the tool of HIV prevention still remains undetermined....
Effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination against invasive pneumococcal disease among children with and those without HIV infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: HIV-infected children are at a higher risk of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) and its mortality, even in the era of antiretroviral therapy. Therefore, an effective vaccination strategy would be...
Systematic review of the performance and clinical utility of point of care HIV-1 RNA testing for diagnosis and care
BACKGROUND: Point of-care (POC) HIV-1 RNA tests which are accurate and easy to use with limited infrastructure are needed in resource-limited settings (RLS). We systematically reviewed evidence of POC test...
Tenofovir-associated kidney disease in Africans: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Data on chronic kidney disease development in HIV infection is important towards building a comprehensive knowledge of HIV, ageing and polypharmacy in Africa. Several previous studies on tenofovir-associated kidney...
Systematic review and meta-analysis of treatment interruptions in HIV-1 infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy: Implications for future HIV cure trials
BACKGROUND: Safety and tolerability of analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) as a vital part of HIV-1 cure studies are discussed. We analyzed current evidence for occurrence of adverse events (AEs) during...
Meta-analyses of HIV prevention interventions targeting improved partner communication: Effects on partner communication and condom use frequency outcomes
Behavioral HIV prevention interventions designed to improve safer-sex communication skills with sexual partners may enhance engagement in protective behaviors and reduce HIV/STI risk. The current meta-analyses examined the efficacy of...
Second-line HIV treatment failure in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Increased second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) failure rate narrows future options for HIV/AIDS treatment. It has critical implications in resource-limited settings; including sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where the burden of HIV-infection...
Causal effects of education on sexual and reproductive health in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Despite strong theoretical grounding, important gaps in knowledge remain regarding the degree to which there is a causal relationship between education and sexual and reproductive health, as many claims have...
Are policy initiatives aligned to meet UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets impacting HIV testing and linkages to care? Evidence from a systematic review
Background: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Fast-Track initiative seeks to eliminate AIDS as a health threat by 2030, with its focus on UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. Effective policies and...
