Category Archives: Health Systems
Breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and practices of HIV-positive women in Africa: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding is essential for ensuring the health and survival of children, particularly in regions where diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition are common causes of child mortality. In sub-Saharan Africa, over...
Hepatitis C increases acute myocardial infarction risk in people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is common among people living with HIV (PLWH) and is associated with adverse outcomes. However, the specific association between HCV coinfection and the risk of...
Advanced stage disease progression and mortality rate before and after the implementation of the Universal Test and Treat strategy (UTT) for HIV patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: The universal test and treat (UTT) program, is a strategy for eliminating HIV and, it involves screening all populations at risk for HIV infection, initiating early treatment for those...
Intermittent preventive treatment regimens for malaria in HIV-positive pregnant women: Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials
Background: The WHO recommended the use of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) regimens for malaria in HIV-positive pregnant women living in endemic areas to prevent malaria-related perinatal complications. However, the high drug...
Prevalence of opportunistic bacterial infections (tuberculosis and pneumonia) among people with HIV in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), are more vulnerable to opportunistic bacterial infections, which include tuberculosis and pneumonia. This systematic review...
HIV-related mortality time trends among children and young adolescents on antiretroviral therapy by age, treatment duration, and region: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis
Background: Past cohort studies have examined mortality among children and young adolescents (aged 0–14 years) who have received antiretroviral therapy (ART), but no systematic reviews have been undertaken to synthesise these...
The impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on HPV persistence and cervical cancer progression among women with HPV/HIV co-infection: A systematic review
Cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Women living with HIV are at risk of persistent high-risk...
State of HIV research in Venezuela: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Venezuela’s recent economic and political instability has severely compromised its healthcare infrastructure, impacting the management of infectious diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This disruption hinders progress towards the...
HIV status and the risk of typhoid fever and iNTS: A systematic review and meta-analysis
OBJECTIVES: The WHO recommends prioritising people living with HIV (PLHIV) for typhoid vaccination, but evidence for increased typhoid fever risk is inconsistent. We aimed to evaluate whether HIV infection alters...
Rapid start with bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) as initial treatment in people with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1): A systematic literature review of clinical and patient-reported outcomes
BACKGROUND: Treatment guidelines recommend rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation among eligible people with HIV to improve treatment outcomes and reduce HIV transmission. Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF), an integrase strand transfer inhibitor-based...
