Category Archives: Women
Retention in HIV care during pregnancy and the postpartum period in the option B+ era: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies in Africa
BACKGROUND: Under Option B+ guidelines for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), pregnant and breastfeeding women initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) for lifelong use. The objectives of this study were:...
What do we know about risk factors for fetal growth restriction in Africa at the time of sustainable development goals? A scoping review
BACKGROUND: The reduction in the under-5 year mortality rate to at least as low as 25 per 1000 livebirths by 2030 has been implemented as one of the new Sustainable...
Effect of point-of-care diagnostics on maternal outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: The World Health Organization advocates for increased accessibility of HIV-related point-of-care (POC) diagnostics in settings that lack laboratory infrastructure. The aim of this study is to assess the impact...
Does being drunk or high cause HIV sexual risk behavior? A systematic review of drug administration studies
HIV sexual risk behavior is broadly associated with substance use. Yet critical questions remain regarding the potential causal link between substance use (e.g., intoxication) and HIV sexual risk behavior. The...
Interventions to address unequal gender and power relations and improve self-efficacy and empowerment for sexual and reproductive health decision-making for women living with HIV: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Many women living with HIV experience gendered power inequalities, particularly in their intimate relationships, that prevent them from achieving optimal sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and exercising their rights....
Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of lifelong antiretroviral therapy for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: Implications for resource-limited countries in sub-Saharan Africa
INTRODUCTION: The 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) consolidated guideline recommends lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women for preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT). Ambiguity remains about...
Cervical cancer prevention and treatment research in Africa: A systematic review from a public health perspective
BACKGROUND: Women living in Africa experience the highest burden of cervical cancer. Research and investment to improve vaccination, screening, and treatment efforts are critically needed. We systematically reviewed and characterized...
What leads some people to think they are HIV-positive before knowing their diagnosis? A systematic review of psychological and behavioural correlates of HIV-risk perception
Current HIV-risk perception refers to the extent to which individuals think they might be HIV-positive. This belief, distinct from the perceived risk about being infected with HIV in the future,...
Role of HIV exposure and infection in relation to neonatal GBS disease and rectovaginal GBS carriage: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is the leading cause worldwide of neonatal sepsis. We sought to assess to which extent HIV exposure of neonates is associated with GBS neonatal disease. Furthermore, we...
The effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions in socioeconomically disadvantaged ethnic minority women: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Surveys in the United States and Europe have shown a plateau of new HIV cases, with certain regions and populations disproportionately affected by the disease. Ethnic minority women and...
