Category Archives: Biomedical interventions
Helping our patients take HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): A systematic review of adherence interventions
OBJECTIVES: Adherence is critical for maximizing the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV infection. Strategies for promoting adherence to HIV treatment, and their potential application to PrEP adherence,...
Mannose-binding lectin and the risk of HIV transmission and disease progression in children: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) can activate the complement system by binding to carbohydrates, such as those presented on the HIV virion surface. It is unclear whether genetically determined MBL deficiency...
Determinants of male involvement in maternal and child health services in sub-Saharan Africa: A review
INTRODUCTION: Male participation is a crucial component in the optimization of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services. This is especially so where prevention strategies to decrease Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) of...
Male circumcision for the prevention of heterosexually acquired HIV infection: A meta-analysis of randomized trials involving 11,050 men
OBJECTIVES: Observational studies and a small collection of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that male circumcision may significantly reduce HIV transmission between sero-discordant contacts. The Joint United Nations Programme on...
Vaginal microbicides for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection – No evidence of an effect or evidence of no effect?
BACKGROUND: Vaginal disinfection is a simple, potentially effective strategy for reducing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV that can be implemented in combination with antiretroviral therapy or even in the absence...
Influence of maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection on vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV): A meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Maternal co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been implicated as a potentially important co-factor for enhanced vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV). In previous reports, however, methodological...
Nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis following sexual assault in industrialized low-HIV-prevalence countries: A review
Although available for over a decade, use of nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis (nPEP) remains controversial in the United States. There are concerns over sexual assault survivors’ adherence, or lack thereof, leading...
Integrating prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programs to improve uptake: A systematic review
Background: We performed a systematic review to assess the effect of integrated perinatal prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV interventions compared to non- or partially integrated services on the uptake...
Impact of viral load and the duration of primary infection on HIV transmission: Systematic review and meta-analysis
OBJECTIVES: HIV ‘treatment as prevention’ (TasP) describes early treatment of HIV-infected patients intended to reduce viral load and transmission. Crucial assumptions for estimating TasP’s effectiveness are the underlying estimates of...
Synthesizing gender based HIV interventions in Sub-Sahara Africa: A systematic review of the evidence
Gender is a critical component of HIV and sexual risk interventions. Examining the range, effectiveness and methodological rigor of studies that include a gender based component can inform current interventions...
Hepatotoxicity associated with long- versus short-course HIV-prophylactic nevirapine use: A systematic review and meta-analysis from the Research on Adverse Drug events And Reports (RADAR) project
Background and objective: The antiretroviral nevirapine can cause severe hepatotoxicity when used ‘off-label’ for preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT), newborn post-exposure prophylaxis and for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis among non-HIV-infected...
