Category Archives: Biomedical interventions
Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention in women: Current status and future directions
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a promising intervention to prevent HIV acquisition, with benefits both to the individual and to population-level health. PrEP is an opportunity to complement ongoing public health...
HIV-related care for transgender people: A systematic review of studies from around the world
RATIONALE: Transgender people face unique challenges, such as structural, interpersonal, and individual vulnerabilities to chronic diseases. Stigma and prejudice may hamper their access to health care and prevent their inclusion...
Optimizing pediatric dosing recommendations and treatment management of antiretroviral drugs utilizing therapeutic drug monitoring data in children living with HIV
INTRODUCTION: This review summarises the current dosing recommendations for antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in the international pediatric guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), US Department of Health and Human Services...
Retest and treat: A review of national HIV retesting guidelines to inform elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission (EMTCT) efforts
INTRODUCTION: High maternal HIV incidence contributes substantially to mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT) in some settings. Since 2006, HIV retesting during the third trimester and breastfeeding has been recommended by the...
Circumcision to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in men who have sex with men: A systematic review and meta-analysis of global data
BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide. Previous reviews investigating the role of circumcision in preventing HIV...
Is co-location of services with HIV care associated with improved HIV care outcomes? A systematic review
This systematic review identifies models of service co-location, a structural intervention strategy to remove barriers to HIV care and services, and examines their associations with HIV care outcomes. A cumulative...
A systematic review on the influence of HLA-B polymorphisms on HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission
BACKGROUND: Mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) is the main route of HIV-1 infection in children. Genetic studies suggest HLA-B alleles play an important role on HIV-1 transmission, progression, and control of HIV-1 infection....
Does male circumcision reduce women’s risk of sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer, and associated conditions?
Background: Male circumcision (MC) is proven to substantially reduce men’s risk of a number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We conducted a detailed systematic review of the scientific literature to...
The impact of location on implementation of HIV/STI prevention interventions among LGBTQ communities
Key take-home messages The characteristics of a location, including segregation, community-level stigma, and infrastructural resources, may influence HIV service utilization and the HIV continuum of care among men who have...
Attrition of HIV-exposed infants from early infant diagnosis services in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: Identification and retention of HIV-exposed infants in early infant diagnosis (EID) services helps to ensure optimal health outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the magnitude of attrition from...