Category Archives: Treatment
Review of the missed opportunities for the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV in Brazil
OBJECTIVE: The present literature review aims to highlight gaps in the treatment of preventative mother-to-child HIV transmission and the risk factors in Brazil. METHODS: Among the 425 articles identified in...
The effect of disclosure on adherence to antiretroviral therapy among adults living with HIV in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Several factors have been identified as being associated with increased adherence to antiretroviral therapy, including sero-status disclosure; however, studies examining the effect of disclosure on ART adherence in Ethiopia...
What will it take for the global plan priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV?
BACKGROUND: The 2016 ‘Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free’ global agenda, builds on the 2011-2015 ‘Global Plan’. It prioritises 22 countries where 90% of the world’s HIV-positive pregnant women live...
Effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on HIV-infected adults: A systematic review
Introduction: Introduction: much evidence confirms that vitamin D may be associated with an improvement in CD4 cell counts in HIV-infected individuals, where antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used and associated with...
HIV prevalence among tuberculosis patients in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
HIV associated tuberculosis (TB) morbidity and mortality is a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the level of HIV infection among TB patients is vital for adequate response. We conducted...
Dolutegravir based antiretroviral therapy compared to other combined antiretroviral regimens for the treatment of HIV-infected naive patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Numerous randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were conducted to evaluate dolutegravir based triple antiretroviral therapy (ART) compared to other triple antiretroviral regimens in naive patients, and a summary of the...
Views of service providers and adolescents on use of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents: A systematic review
This review examines the literature on adolescents’ and providers’ views on access and use of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information and services. The SRH services referred to in this...
Treatment outcomes and antiretroviral uptake in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and HIV co-infected patients in sub Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in HIV endemic settings is a major threat to public health. MDR-TB is a substantial and underreported problem in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with recognised cases projected...
Performance of cepheid GeneXpert HIV-1 viral load plasma assay to accurately detect treatment failure: A clinical meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Coverage of viral load testing remains low with only half of the patients in need having adequate access. Alternative technologies to high throughput centralized machines can be used to...
How does hard-to-reach status affect antiretroviral therapy adherence in the HIV-infected population? Results from a meta-analysis of observational studies
BACKGROUND: Socially disadvantaged groups, such as drug users, sex workers and homeless individuals, are labelled as “hard-to-reach” (HTR) in public health and medical research. HIV disproportionately impacts these populations, but...
Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV
BACKGROUND: Despite antiretroviral therapy (ART) being widely available, HIV continues to cause substantial illness and premature death in low-and-middle-income countries. High rates of loss to follow-up after HIV diagnosis can...
