Category Archives: Biomedical interventions
A meta-analysis of the performance of the Pima CD4 for point of care testing
BACKGROUND: The Alere point-of-care (POC) Pima CD4 analyzer allows for decentralized testing and expansion to testing antiretroviral therapy (ART) eligibility. A consortium conducted a pooled multi-data technical performance analysis of...
Metabolic complications of in utero maternal HIV and antiretroviral exposure in HIV-exposed infants
BACKGROUND: Despite a wide body of literature supporting the use of antenatal antiretrovirals (ARV) for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, there remains a need for continued monitoring as the intrauterine...
Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus in sub-Saharan Africa: The journey so far and what remains to be done
This review was carried out to provide a comprehensive overview of efforts toward elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with respect to progress, challenges, and recommendations...
Hormonal contraception and the risk of HIV acquisition: An individual participant data meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Observational studies of a putative association between hormonal contraception (HC) and HIV acquisition have produced conflicting results. We conducted an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of studies from sub-Saharan...
Effect of rAd5-Vector HIV-1 preventive vaccines on HIV-1 acquisition: A participant-level meta-analysis of randomized trials
BACKGROUND: Three phase 2b, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized efficacy trials have tested recombinant Adenovirus serotype-5 (rAd5)-vector preventive HIV-1 vaccines: MRKAd5 HIV-1 gag/pol/nef in Step and Phambili, and DNA/rAd5 HIV-1 env/gag/pol in...
A systematic review of health system barriers and enablers for antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women
BACKGROUND: Despite global progress in the fight to reduce maternal mortality, HIV-related maternal deaths remain persistently high, particularly in much of Africa. Lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) appears to be the...
Nonoxynol-9 for preventing vaginal acquisition of sexually transmitted infections by women from men
BACKGROUND: The incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and other reproductive tract infections (RTI) is high in much of the developing and parts of the developed worlds. STIs...
Cost-effectiveness of HIV/AIDS interventions in Africa: A systematic review of the evidence
BACKGROUND: Evidence for cost-effectiveness of interventions for HIV/AIDS in Africa is fragmentary. Cost-effectiveness is, however, highly relevant. African governments face difficult choices in striking the right balance between prevention, treatment,...
Meta-analytical studies on the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection
Since the beginning of the epidemic, extensive research has been conducted in the field of HIV infection. Original research and subsequent meta-analyses have contributed to a better understanding of the...
