Category Archives: People who use drugs
Prevalence of HIV among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Aboriginal) are Australia’s first peoples. Between 2006 and 2015, HIV notifications increased among Aboriginal people; however, among non-Aboriginal people, notifications remained relatively stable. This...
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV patients in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in India, the third largest HIV epidemic in the world. We identified peer...
A client-centered relational framework on barriers to the integration of HIV and substance use services: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Given the close connection between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and substance use disorder (SUD), access to integrated HIV and SUD services is critical for individuals experiencing both challenges...
Multi-level experiences and determinants of alcohol misuse and illicit drug use among occupational groups at high-risk of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A thematic synthesis of qualitative findings
Occupational groups at high-risk of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may be at increased risk of substance use because of occupation-related factors. We synthesised qualitative data on determinants and context...
HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) and related factors in Iran: A systematic review, meta-analysis and trend analysis
AIMS: In Iran, injecting drug use has been the major route of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. In order to control the HIV epidemic, a harm reduction program was initiated...
Taiwan guideline on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention – 2018 update
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus infection is proved to be effective and has been implemented worldwide. This article introduces the guideline development and revised recommendations and...
What do HIV-positive drug users’ experience tell us about their antiretroviral medications taking? An international integrated literature review
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: HIV-positive drug users’ poor adherence to antiretroviral regimens can pose a significant and negative impact on individual and global health. This review aims to identify knowledge gaps...
Comparing injecting and sexual risk behaviors of long-term injectors with new injectors: A meta-analysis
The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of injection duration on injection and sexual high-risk behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID), in order to inform development of intensive...
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...
Evidence for optimal HIV screening and testing intervals in HIV-negative individuals from various risk groups: A systematic review
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing plays a crucial role in Canada’s HIV prevention and treatment efforts and is the first step to achieving the Joint United Nations Programme on...
Sexually transmitted hepatitis C virus infections: Current trends, and recent advances in understanding the spread in men who have sex with men
INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health threat. Although the recent availability of highly effective directly acting antivirals created optimism towards HCV elimination, there is ongoing transmission...
Prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C virus co-infections among Iranian high-risk groups: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Co-infection with hepatitis B and C among HIV infected patients are prevalent among high-risk populations. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of HIV, HCV and HBV co-infections among high-risk...
