Category Archives: Prevention, Engagement and Care Cascade
Prevalence and risk factors for cytomegalovirus retinitis among people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa in the antiretroviral therapy era: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Cytomegalovirus retinitis has remained an alarming and potentially vision-threatening opportunistic disease in the population living with HIV, especially in cases of extreme immunosuppression. Although the introduction of antiretroviral therapy has...
Exploring the potential of cognitive intra-individual variability in HIV care and research in adults with HIV: A concept analysis
Cognitive intraindividual variability (IIV) refers to the variability in one’s ability to sustain consistent cognitive performance. This phenomenon is linked to the emergence of cognitive impairment and dementia. The aim...
Effectiveness of digital health interventions for improving antiretroviral therapy outcomes in people with HIV: Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials
Background: Digital health interventions (DHIs) are increasingly used to support antiretroviral therapy (ART) management among people living with HIV. However, existing systematic reviews have largely focused on single intervention types or...
Impact of dolutegravir-based regimens on patient satisfaction and quality of life among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Despite the global scale up of dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimens as the preferred first-line therapy for persons living with HIV (PLHIV), no comprehensive evidence exists on its effect on patient-reported...
The burden of HIV-related stigma on clinical and quality of life outcomes: results from a systematic literature review
BACKGROUND: HIV-related stigma adversely impacts people with HIV. As part of a systematic literature review (SLR) to evaluate 6 research questions on HIV-related stigma among people with HIV, data from...
Structural competency as a global framework for syndemic HIV care: A critical synthesis
The co-occurrence of HIV with mental health disorders, substance use, and tuberculosis continues to constitute significant global public health issues. Syndemic theory elucidates how these conditions interact synergistically to exacerbate...
Peer-led models for improving HIV treatment and care outcomes among adolescents and young people living with HIV in eastern and southern Africa: A rapid review
Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV have poor levels of adherence to treatment and retention in care. Previous reviews highlighted the need for high-quality evidence on peer-led interventions for...
Optimising post-delivery viral load monitoring and HIV care to eliminate breastfeeding-associated HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa: A review
Sustained maternal HIV viral-load (VL) suppression during breastfeeding is essential for eliminating vertical HIV transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although vertical transmission prevention programmes have improved antiretroviral therapy coverage and peripartum...
Artificial intelligence for predicting antiretroviral therapy outcomes in people living with HIV: A systematic review of predictive models, predictors and clinical readiness
BACKGROUND: Machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL) and other predictive modelling approaches are increasingly applied to predict antiretroviral therapy (ART) outcomes among people living with HIV, yet their methodological robustness...
The gut-immune axis in treated HIV infection: From mucosal damage to chronic inflammation and therapeutic opportunities—A clinician-oriented narrative review
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transformed HIV into a manageable chronic disease. However, people living with HIV (PLWH) experience a 16-year reduction in comorbidity-free life expectancy compared to HIV-negative individuals,...
Socio-cultural and systematic factors influencing fertility desire among women living with HIV: A systematic literature review
Women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa remain disproportionately affected by HIV. HIV care strategies can significantly reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) often...
Exclusive breastfeeding and associated factors among HIV-infected mothers in sub-Saharan African countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, along with maternal antiretroviral treatment, to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to infants and promote their...
