Category Archives: Engagement and Care Cascade
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV care continuum and associated factors in middle-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review
INTRODUCTION: The HIV care continuum during the COVID-19 era faced specific challenges. The pandemic, affecting the delivery of HIV care, exacerbated existing healthcare inequities and vulnerabilities in middle-income countries with...
Utilization of modern contraception and determinants among HIV positive women in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background The burden of pediatric HIV/AIDS, mother-to-child transmission rate, and unintended pregnancy among HIV-positive women remain high in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Provision of contraceptives is an undeniable strategy to...
Non-pharmaceutical interventions for people living with HIV with cognitive impairment: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment (CI) in HIV is often of multifactorial causation, and remains a prominent issue in the age of effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), affecting approximately 14% of people...
Effect of micronutrients on HIV-related clinical outcomes among adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Context: Micronutrient deficiencies are common and frequently co-occurring among people living with HIV (PLHIV) globally, with consequences for their health and clinical outcomes. Previous reviews of the influence of micronutrient supplementation...
Risk of viral failure after simplification therapy without using integrase inhibitors compared with maintenance of triple antiretroviral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Antiretroviral drug simplification is a strategy to reduce drug exposure and improve treatment adherence. Nowadays, dolutegravir plus lamivudine is the most preferred regimen, which might lead in the future...
Antiviral therapy for cytomegalovirus retinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) is a significant cause of blindness in patients with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). There are no established guidelines for its treatment, resulting in varied antiviral approaches....
The impact of undernutrition and anemia on HIV-related mortality among children on ART in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Although there have been significant advancements in providing HIV-infected children with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), the mortality rates have remained unacceptably high. Inadequate nutrient intake or absorption is...
Interventions to ensure access to and continuity of HIV care for international migrants: An evidence synthesis
International migrants, especially those belonging to key populations, face a considerable HIV burden. However, continuity of HIV care for this group is often challenged along the migration route. We assess...
Burden of mortality and its predictors among TB-HIV co-infected patients in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) are still the two major deadly pandemics globally, causes 167,000 deaths in 2022. The two lethal combinations pose a substantial challenge to...
Predictors of maternal HIV acquisition during pregnancy and lactation in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and narrative synthesis
OBJECTIVES: To eliminate vertical transmission of HIV, global institutions recommend using a risk-guided approach for HIV prevention services in antenatal and postnatal settings. Identifying predictors of maternal HIV acquisition can...
Community-based psychosocial support interventions to reduce stigma and improve mental health of people with infectious diseases: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Stigma experienced by people with infectious diseases impedes access to care, leading to adverse psychosocial consequences. Community-based interventions could prevent or mitigate these consequences but lack robust evidence. This...
Prevalence and associated factors of HIV among female sex workers in Eastern and Southern Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Female sex workers (FSWs) are marginalized groups of the population who have limited access to healthcare and a higher risk of HIV infection due to biobehavioral and structural risk...
