Category Archives: Prevention
Forming and implementing community advisory boards in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Community advisory boards (CABs) have expanded beyond high-income countries (HICs) and play an increasing role in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) research. Much research has examined CABs in HICs,...
Risk factors for infectious diseases in urban environments of sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence
Our world is rapidly urbanizing. According to the United Nations, between 1990 and 2015, the percent of the world’s population living in urban areas grew from 43% to 54%. Estimates...
Use of an indeterminate range in HIV early infant diagnosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Expanded access to HIV antiretrovirals has dramatically reduced mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, there is increasing concern around false-positive HIV test results in perinatally HIV-exposed infants but few insights...
Sexually transmitted hepatitis C virus infections: Current trends, and recent advances in understanding the spread in men who have sex with men
INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health threat. Although the recent availability of highly effective directly acting antivirals created optimism towards HCV elimination, there is ongoing transmission...
Adjuvanted-influenza vaccination in patients infected with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis of immunogenicity and safety
Adjuvanted-influenza vaccination is an efficient method for enhancing the immunogenicity of influenza split-virus vaccines for preventing influenza. However, the medical community’s understanding of its performance in patients infected with HIV...
The impact, cost and cost-effectiveness of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review of modelling contributions and way forward
INTRODUCTION: Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a new form of HIV prevention being considered for inclusion in national prevention portfolios. Many mathematical modelling studies have been undertaken that speak to...
Electronic health interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy in people living With HIV: Systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Electronic health (eHealth) is increasingly used for self-management and service delivery of HIV-related diseases. With the publication of studies increasingly focusing on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, this makes it...
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...
Peer-led self-management Interventions and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV: A systematic review
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLWH). However, adherence remains suboptimal, and PLWH may benefit from more self-management support...
Adherence to HIV post-exposure prophylaxis for children/adolescents who have been sexually assaulted: A systematic review of barriers, enablers, and interventions
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a key intervention for preventing HIV acquisition, including following sexual assault. However, uptake and completion rates for HIV PEP are lowest following sexual assault, with only...
Barriers to the use of mobile health in improving health outcomes in developing countries: Systematic review
BACKGROUND: The use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies to improve population-level health outcomes around the world has surged in the last decade. Research supports the use of mHealth apps to...
