Category Archives: Health Systems
Social marketing interventions to increase HIV/STI testing uptake among men who have sex with men and male-to-female transgender women
BACKGROUND: Social marketing interventions have been shown to both promote and change many health-related behaviours and issues. As the HIV epidemic continues to disproportionately affect MSM and transgender women around...
A systematic review to identify challenges of demonstrating efficacy of HIV behavioral interventions for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM)
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV but few MSM-specific evidence-based interventions (EBIs) have been identified for this vulnerable group. We...
Influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis from a public health policy perspective
BACKGROUND: Immunocompromised patients are vulnerable to severe or complicated influenza infection. Vaccination is widely recommended for this group. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients in...
Linking sexual and reproductive health and HIV interventions: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: The international community agrees that the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved without ensuring universal access to both sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment,...
The nursing implications of routine provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling in sub-Saharan Africa: A critical review of new policy guidance from WHO/UNAIDS
BACKGROUND: In 2007 WHO/UNAIDS issued new HIV testing guidelines recommending ‘provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling’ (PITC). In contrast to existing ‘voluntary counselling and testing’ guidelines (whereby individuals self refer for...
Treatment, care and support for people co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C: A scoping review
Background: Providing care for people who are co-infected with both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is becoming increasingly complex and requires integrated prevention, screening, support and programming efforts. We...
The cost-effectiveness of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in low- and middle-income countries: Systematic review
Background: Although highly effective prevention interventions exist, the epidemic of paediatric HIV continues to challenge control efforts in resource-limited settings. We reviewed the cost-effectiveness of interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission...
Health impact of external funding for HIV, tuberculosis and malaria: Systematic review
BACKGROUND Since 2002, development assistance for health has substantially increased, especially investments for HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria control. We undertook a systematic review to assess and synthesize the existing...
Clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa and established standards of care: A systematic review of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria trials
Context: The minimum standard of care required for participants in clinical trials conducted in resource-poor settings is a matter of controversy; international documents offer contradictory guidance. Objective: To determine whether...
Pharmaco-economics of blood transfusion safety: Review of the available evidence
Background and Objectives: Pharmaco-economics provides a standardized methodology for valid comparisons of interventions in different fields of health care. The role of pharmaco-economics in the safety of blood and blood...
Experiences integrating delivery of maternal and child health services with childhood immunization programs: Systematic review update
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund promote integration of maternal and child health (MCH) and immunization services as a strategy to strengthen immunization programs. We...
