Category Archives: Sexual risk behaviour
Vaginal ring acceptability and related preferences among women in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and narrative synthesis
The vaginal ring (VR) is a female-initiated drug-delivery platform used for different indications, including HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We conducted a systematic review of VR acceptability, values and preferences among...
Providing competent, comprehensive and inclusive sexual health services for men who have sex with men in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review
Although men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmissible infections, sexual health services for MSM in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) remain...
Risk factors for infectious diseases in urban environments of sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence
Our world is rapidly urbanizing. According to the United Nations, between 1990 and 2015, the percent of the world’s population living in urban areas grew from 43% to 54%. Estimates...
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...
Causal effects of education on sexual and reproductive health in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: Despite strong theoretical grounding, important gaps in knowledge remain regarding the degree to which there is a causal relationship between education and sexual and reproductive health, as many claims have...
Crowdsourcing to improve HIV and sexual health outcomes: A scoping review
Purpose of review: This review synthesizes evidence on the use of crowdsourcing to improve HIV/sexual health outcomes. Recent findings: We identified 15 studies, including four completed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one planned...
Meta-analyses of HIV prevention interventions targeting improved partner communication: Effects on partner communication and condom use frequency outcomes
Behavioral HIV prevention interventions designed to improve safer-sex communication skills with sexual partners may enhance engagement in protective behaviors and reduce HIV/STI risk. The current meta-analyses examined the efficacy of...
Health literacy and health outcomes in persons living with HIV disease: A systematic review
Low health literacy is associated with challenges for those living with HIV including medication non-adherence and poorer health outcomes. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature...
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...
Sexual agreements: A scoping review of measurement, prevalence and links to health outcomes
A sexual agreement is a mutual understanding between two partners regarding sexual and relational behaviors both within and outside of their relationship. Sexual agreements have been central to research and...
