Category Archives: Health Systems
Analysis of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on syphilis in susceptible populations: Me who have sex with men, people living with HIV, and patients with gestational and congenital syphilis—A narrative review
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a public health crisis that significantly impacted sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly syphilis. However, data on syphilis incidence during the pandemic remains inconsistent globally. Key groups...
Transition From adolescent to adult care for young people living with HIV: A systematic review of needs, barriers, and interventions
Young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) aged 15-24 years represent over 25% of new HIV infections globally. They face significant challenges in transitioning from pediatric to adult care. Despite guidelines...
Better together?: A systematic review of he effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions that build or strengthen social ties
Although social relationships impact health and social dynamics play a key role in shaping HIV vulnerability, results from intentional efforts to build or strengthen social relationships have not been synthesized...
Assessing the impact of digital communication tools on oral PrEP adherence: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effect of digital communication tools (e.g., text message reminders) on improving daily oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence. Searching PubMed, Embase, Web of...
Safer opioid supply clients’ values and preferences: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative research
QUESTION: What are the values and preferences of safer opioid supply clients? STUDY SELECTION AND ANALYSIS: We conducted a systematic review of qualitative studies on safer opioid supply client experiences...
Late diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its associated factors in Asian countries: A systematic review
Background: Despite widespread public health interventions and research on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), late diagnosis and presentation into care constitute serious challenges to effective prevention and control of the disease. Asia,...
Characterizing the HIV care continuum among children and adolescents with HIV in eastern and southern Africa in the era of “Universal Test and Treat”: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: The “Universal Test and Treat” (UTT) era for antiretroviral therapy (ART) increased HIV service delivery to children and adolescents aged 0-19 with HIV. The goal is to reach %95%...
The effectiveness of monetary incentives in improving viral suppression, treatment adherence, and retention in care among the general population of people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Achieving and maintaining viral suppression and optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy are crucial for improving health outcomes in general population of people living with HIV. This study aimed to...
Impact of mHealth on enhancing pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence and strengthening the HIV prevention cascade among key populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Good adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is critical for effective HIV prevention. Despite the growing awareness of PrEP, many individuals remain at a preliminary understanding stage and struggle to...
Effect of human immunodeficiency virus self-testing (HIVST) on HIV and STI testing uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effectiveness of HIVST in terms of increasing HIV testing, early detection of HIV, and sexually transmitted infections among MSM via...
A meta-analysis of prevalence and moderating factors of malnutrition among people living with HIV across countries
Malnutrition is a critical issue for people living with HIV (PLWH), affecting their immune function, health outcomes, and response to antiretroviral therapy. This meta-analysis assessed the prevalence of malnutrition among...
The key design features and effectiveness of social network interventions for HIV testing and linkage services in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: HIV remains a global health challenge with a reported 39 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2022. Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific are home to 82% of...
