Category Archives: Biomedical interventions
Effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): A systematic review of randomized controlled trials with narrative synthesis
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention has advanced substantially, yet ending new transmissions by 2030 remains uncertain. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has high biological efficacy, but real-world effectiveness varies due to adherence,...
Effect of donor exclusion criteria on blood safety and volume of donations: A systematic review of modelling studies
Objective To assess the effect of easing bans and deferral policies on blood donation from men who have sex with men on blood safety and volume from modelling studies. Methods We searched...
Rapid diagnostic tests, laboratory-based immunoassay and nucleic acid testing strategies for long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical intervention for the prevention of HIV acquisition. There is a strong interest among communities and policymakers for LAI-PrEP scale-up,...
Barriers and facilitators influencing PrEP uptake among men who have sex with men and transgender women in the United States: A systematic review
In the United States, men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) have high HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, yet uptake rates remain extremely low. This signifies...
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the MENA region: A systematic review with comparative evidence from sub-Saharan Africa
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces distinct challenges in addressing the HIV epidemic, including social stigma, limited surveillance data, and insufficient coverage of prevention services. Prevention of...
Global Perspectives on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Health Care Providers’ Awareness, Willingness, and Barriers
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess health care providers’ awareness, willingness, and key barriers in implementing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for...
A web of risk: Multilevel factors and feedback loops (re)produce HIV ‘risk’ among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men—A global systematic review
BACKGROUND: HIV literature shows that gay, bisexual and men who have sex with other men (GBMSM) experience inequities across social and contextual factors. Given growing inequities, this study used complex...
PrEP delivery for U.S. adolescents and young adults: A systematic review and narrative synthesis
Despite proven efficacy in preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) remains underutilized among adolescents and young adults (AYA) in the United States (US). This systematic review and...
Efficacy and safety of long-acting lenacapavir for HIV treatment and prevention: A systematic review of randomized trials
Background: Lenacapavir is a first-in-class, long-acting HIV-1 capsid inhibitor enabling treatment and prevention with reduced reliance on daily oral adherence. Evidence from randomized trials across indications remains fragmented. We systematically...
Evaluating the effectiveness of digital health interventions for HIV prevention and treatment adherence among transgender populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Transgender individuals face a disproportionate burden of HIV due to systemic barriers including stigma, discrimination, and limited access to gender-affirming healthcare. Digital health interventions (DHIs), such as mobile applications,...
A scoping review of the methods, content, and populations of rural LGBTQ health research since the new millennium
INTRODUCTION: This scoping review mapped the population characteristics, methodologies, content, and publishing trends of primary research focused on rural LGBTQ individuals since the year 2000. METHODS: We conducted a search...
Role of pharmacists in HIV prophylaxis: A scoping review of pharmacists’ services, interventions and outcomes
INTRODUCTION: HIV remains a major global public health challenge, with nearly 1.3 million new HIV acquisitions annually. Despite the effectiveness of pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), barriers to access,...
