Category Archives: Substance Use
A global meta-analysis of the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus among people who inject drugs — Do gender-based differences vary by country-level indicators?
BACKGROUND: Women-specific factors exist that increases vulnerability to drug-related harms from injection drug use, including blood-borne viruses (BBVs), but gender-based differences in BBV prevalence have not been systematically examined. METHODS:...
Possible benefits of providing safe supply of substances to people who use drugs during public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic
Key take-home messages Safe supply is an approach that focuses on saving lives by prescribing pharmaceutical grade substances such as opioids and stimulants to individuals at risk of overdose and...
Prevalence of HIV among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Aboriginal) are Australia’s first peoples. Between 2006 and 2015, HIV notifications increased among Aboriginal people; however, among non-Aboriginal people, notifications remained relatively stable. This...
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV patients in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in India, the third largest HIV epidemic in the world. We identified peer...
A client-centered relational framework on barriers to the integration of HIV and substance use services: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Given the close connection between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and substance use disorder (SUD), access to integrated HIV and SUD services is critical for individuals experiencing both challenges...
Different transmission routes and the risk of advanced HIV disease: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of observational studies
Background: A substantial proportion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) present for care with advanced HIV disease (AHD), which may result in difficulty reaching the “90-90-90” target to end AIDS...
The PrEP care continuum among cisgender women who sell sex and/or use drugs globally: A systematic review
HIV prevalence among cisgender female sex workers (FSW) and/or women who use drugs (WWUD) is substantially higher compared to similarly aged women. Consistent with PRISMA guidelines, we conducted the first...
HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Given the high burden of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among female sex workers (FSW) and their potential role in bridging HIV/STIs into the general population, estimating the...
HIV epidemiology among female sex workers and their clients in the Middle East and North Africa: Systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions
BACKGROUND: HIV epidemiology among female sex workers (FSWs) and their clients in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is poorly understood. We addressed this gap through a comprehensive...
Burnout among service providers addressing substance use disorders
Key take-home messages Main burnout components experienced among service providers addressing substance use disorders include emotional exhaustion (feeling drained of all available emotional capacity), depersonalization (experiencing cynicism, helplessness and detachment),...
Alcohol use and antiretroviral therapy non-adherence among adults living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is efficacious in improving clinical outcomes among people living with HIV (PLWH) and reducing HIV transmission when taken regularly. Research examining modifiable factors associated with ART non-adherence...
