Category Archives: Prevention, Engagement and Care Cascade
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...
Men who have sex with men perceiving that sex with women carries the greatest risk of HIV acquisition: Results from a mixed-methods systematic review in sub-Saharan Africa
INTRODUCTION: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), men who have sex with men (MSM) often have female sexual partners. Their overall risk of acquiring HIV is higher with male partners. Risk perception...
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...
Uptake and acceptability of HIV self-testing among pregnant and postpartum women and their male partners in sub-Saharan Africa: Benefits, challenges, and delivery strategies
BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) offers a novel solution for increasing HIV testing among pregnant and postpartum women and their male partners, especially in low-resource settings. These groups often face barriers...
Complications due to HIV in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: HIV infection in patients undergoing Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) results in adverse postoperative outcomes. However, there are uncertain data regarding the extent of involvement of HIV in TJA and the...
Transitions in treatment: A systematic review and meta-aggregation of preferences and barriers in switching from oral to long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV and stakeholders
INTRODUCTION: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) has significantly enhanced health outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH). With the evolution of treatment options, there is an increasing interest in the development of...
Neuropsychiatric outcomes in children and adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV: A systematic review and meta analysis
Objective: The objective of this study is to define the neuropsychiatric challenges including developmental delay, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric illness faced by children with perinatally acquired HIV. Data sources: Nine databases were...
Application of the COM-B model to facilitators and barriers to HIV and STI testing among people from Black African and Black Caribbean communities in the UK: A scoping review
OBJECTIVE: Individuals from Black African and Black Caribbean communities (black communities) in the UK bear a disproportionate burden of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), while exhibiting lower testing rates....
Comparative efficacy and safety of treatment regimens for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in people living with HIV: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a serious opportunistic infection in people living with HIV (PWH) who have low CD4 counts. Despite its side effects, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is currently considered...
Onset and predictors of first-line antiretroviral therapy treatment failure among children in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: The emergence of First-line Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) regimens fails; it necessitates the use of more costly and less tolerable second-line medications. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and address factors...
Unintended pregnancy among women living with HIV and its predictors in East Africa, 2024. A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: An unintended pregnancy refers to a situation where a pregnancy occurs either when there is no desire for a child (unwanted) or when it takes place at a time...
Barriers to PrEP use and adherence among adolescent girls and young women in Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Globally, in 2022, an estimated 4000 AGYW 15–24 were newly infected with HIV weekly, and nearly 78% of...
