Category Archives: Biomedical interventions
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Infant feeding practices of HIV positive mothers and its association with counseling and HIV disclosure status in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: Breastfeeding is the ideal food source for all newborns globally. However, in the era of Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) infection, feeding practice is a challenge due to mother-to-child...
Voluntary medical male circumcision and HIV infection among men who have sex with men: Implications from a systematic review
Background: With the rapidly-increased HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men worldwide, the effectiveness of voluntary medical male circumcision as the tool of HIV prevention still remains undetermined....
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV: A review of the achievements and challenges in Burkina-Faso
Background: Burkina-Faso’s HIV/AIDS program is one of the most successful in Africa, with a declining HIV prevalence and treatment outcomes that rival those of developed countries. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission...
Effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination against invasive pneumococcal disease among children with and those without HIV infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: HIV-infected children are at a higher risk of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) and its mortality, even in the era of antiretroviral therapy. Therefore, an effective vaccination strategy would be...
Barriers and facilitators to the successful transition of adolescents living with HIV from pediatric to adult care in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and policy analysis
The purpose of this systematic review was twofold. First, we sought to summarize the literature on barriers and facilitators to successful healthcare transition for adolescents living with HIV from low-...
