Category Archives: Health Systems
The mental health of adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: Interventions along the HIV care continuum—A systematic review
Although the relationship between HIV and mental health is well-established, limited research has focused on the available interventions for adults living with HIV (ALWH), particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)...
Can ChatGPT match physicians in the diagnosis, triage, management and prevention of infectious diseases? A scoping review
INTRODUCTION: The global burden of infectious diseases (ID), combined with a shortage of ID specialists, continues to challenge healthcare systems worldwide. Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models such as...
Facilitators and barriers to cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV: A systematic review of qualitative studies
BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that 58% of new cervical cancer cases worldwide occur among women living with HIV. However, compared with HIV-negative women, this population has significantly poorer access to healthcare...
Barriers and facilitators to STI and HIV testing among African and Caribbean heritage communities in high-income countries mapped to the behaviour change wheel: A scoping review
Background: African and Caribbean communities in high-income countries face disproportionate sexually transmitted infection (STI) risks. In the US, the gonorrhoea rate among non-Hispanic Blacks is 7.7 times greater than that among...
Choosing between dual and three-drug antiretroviral therapy in aging and comorbid people with HIV: A narrative review
The widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV infection into a chronic condition, with life expectancy of people with HIV (PWH) approaching that of the general population when...
Interventions to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
OBJECTIVE: Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) face barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, negatively affecting their health and quality of life. These challenges are particularly pronounced in...
Exploring the potential of cognitive intra-individual variability in HIV care and research in adults with HIV: A concept analysis
Cognitive intraindividual variability (IIV) refers to the variability in one’s ability to sustain consistent cognitive performance. This phenomenon is linked to the emergence of cognitive impairment and dementia. The aim...
Effectiveness of digital health interventions for improving antiretroviral therapy outcomes in people with HIV: Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials
Background: Digital health interventions (DHIs) are increasingly used to support antiretroviral therapy (ART) management among people living with HIV. However, existing systematic reviews have largely focused on single intervention types or...
Impact of dolutegravir-based regimens on patient satisfaction and quality of life among people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Despite the global scale up of dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimens as the preferred first-line therapy for persons living with HIV (PLHIV), no comprehensive evidence exists on its effect on patient-reported...
Structural competency as a global framework for syndemic HIV care: A critical synthesis
The co-occurrence of HIV with mental health disorders, substance use, and tuberculosis continues to constitute significant global public health issues. Syndemic theory elucidates how these conditions interact synergistically to exacerbate...
Peer-led models for improving HIV treatment and care outcomes among adolescents and young people living with HIV in eastern and southern Africa: A rapid review
Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV have poor levels of adherence to treatment and retention in care. Previous reviews highlighted the need for high-quality evidence on peer-led interventions for...
Optimising post-delivery viral load monitoring and HIV care to eliminate breastfeeding-associated HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa: A review
Sustained maternal HIV viral-load (VL) suppression during breastfeeding is essential for eliminating vertical HIV transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although vertical transmission prevention programmes have improved antiretroviral therapy coverage and peripartum...
