Category Archives: Substance Use
Multi-level experiences and determinants of alcohol misuse and illicit drug use among occupational groups at high-risk of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A thematic synthesis of qualitative findings
Occupational groups at high-risk of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) may be at increased risk of substance use because of occupation-related factors. We synthesised qualitative data on determinants and context...
HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID) and related factors in Iran: A systematic review, meta-analysis and trend analysis
AIMS: In Iran, injecting drug use has been the major route of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. In order to control the HIV epidemic, a harm reduction program was initiated...
Sociodemographic and health profile of TB/HIV co-infection in Brazil: A systematic review
OBJECTIVE: to ascertain the epidemiological profile of TB/HIV co-infection in Brazilian scenarios. METHOD: this is a systematic review conducted via electronic search in databases PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS and SciELO, having...
Comparing injecting and sexual risk behaviors of long-term injectors with new injectors: A meta-analysis
The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of injection duration on injection and sexual high-risk behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID), in order to inform development of intensive...
Late presentation of HIV positive adults and its predictors to HIV/AIDS care in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: Late presentation to HIV/AIDS care which is attended by problems like, poor treatment outcomes, early development of opportunistic infections, increased healthcare costs, and mortality is a major problem in...
The HIV-related risk factors of the cisgender male sexual partners of transgender women (MSTW) in the United States: A systematic review of the literature
Cisgender male sexual partners of transgender women (MSTW) may be at risk for HIV infection. We performed a review of HIV risk factors among MSTW. We searched PubMed database for...
Prescription drug diversion among people living with HIV: A systematic scoping review
OBJECTIVES: Globally, people living with HIV (PLWH) are at greater risk for various infections and chronic pain, therefore, vulnerable to prescription drug diversion which might negatively impact HIV care. The...
The opioid and related drug epidemics in rural Appalachia: A systematic review of populations affected, risk factors, and infectious diseases
Background/aims: To examine trends in rural Appalachian opioid and related drug epidemics during the past 10 years, including at-risk populations, substance use shifts and correlates, and associated infections. Methods: We...
Pre-exposure prophylaxis use and medication adherence among men who have sex with men: A systematic review of the literature
The appropriate use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by men who have sex with men (MSM) can be highly effective at reducing HIV transmission. Our review examined prevalence estimates, sexual behaviors,...
How does hard-to-reach status affect antiretroviral therapy adherence in the HIV-infected population? Results from a meta-analysis of observational studies
BACKGROUND: Socially disadvantaged groups, such as drug users, sex workers and homeless individuals, are labelled as “hard-to-reach” (HTR) in public health and medical research. HIV disproportionately impacts these populations, but...
Risk factors for prescription drug diversion among people living with HIV: A systematic scoping review
BACKGROUND: In addition to numerous infections and frequent pain constantly affecting people living with HIV (PLWH), various risk factors might contribute to prescription drug diversion. The purpose of the study...
