Category Archives: Health Systems
Detection of new HIV cases under epidemic control—When is it the right time to review HIV testing algorithms for countries nearing the 95-95-95 milestones? Case study—Bostwana
Background: Accurate diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is dependent on using established national HIV testing algorithm. The purpose of this study was to review published articles to identify,...
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV care continuum and associated factors in middle-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review
INTRODUCTION: The HIV care continuum during the COVID-19 era faced specific challenges. The pandemic, affecting the delivery of HIV care, exacerbated existing healthcare inequities and vulnerabilities in middle-income countries with...
Gut microbiome alteration in HIV/AIDS and the role of antiretroviral therapy—A scoping review
(1) Background: The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in chronic immune activation associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) pathogenesis, non-AIDS-related comorbidities, and mortality...
Non-pharmaceutical interventions for people living with HIV with cognitive impairment: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment (CI) in HIV is often of multifactorial causation, and remains a prominent issue in the age of effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), affecting approximately 14% of people...
Utilization of modern contraception and determinants among HIV positive women in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background The burden of pediatric HIV/AIDS, mother-to-child transmission rate, and unintended pregnancy among HIV-positive women remain high in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Provision of contraceptives is an undeniable strategy to...
Interventions to ensure access to and continuity of HIV care for international migrants: An evidence synthesis
International migrants, especially those belonging to key populations, face a considerable HIV burden. However, continuity of HIV care for this group is often challenged along the migration route. We assess...
Patient and public involvement in HIV research: A mapping review and development of an online evidence map
INTRODUCTION: Increasing evidence indicates the benefits of patient and public involvement (PPI) in medical research, and PPI is increasingly expected by funders and publishers. We conducted a mapping review of...
Linkage to care and prevention after HIV self-testing: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: Effective linkage to prevention and care is a crucial step following HIV testing services. This systematic review aimed to determine the proportion of individuals linked to prevention and care...
Pre-exposure prophylaxis access, uptake and usage by young people: A systematic review of barriers and facilitators
BACKGROUND: Young people’s sexual health decision-making, including decisions to access and adhere to HIV prevention strategies such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), are influenced by a range of internal and external...
Opportunistic infections among schoolchildren who were on antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: The most common and severe cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV- positive children is opportunistic infections (OIs). All HIV-infected children are at risk of developing a variety of...
