Category Archives: Health Systems
Barriers to and enablers of uptake of antiretroviral therapy in integrated HIV and tuberculosis treatment programmes in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction Programmes that merge management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) aim to improve HIV/TB co-infected patients’ access to comprehensive treatment. However, several reports from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)...
Psychosocial interventions to promote undetectable HIV viral loads: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials
Suppressing HIV viral loads to undetectable levels is essential for ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We evaluated randomized controlled trials aimed to increase antiretroviral medication adherence and promote undetectable viral loads...
The cost-effectiveness of sexual and reproductive health and rights interventions in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are an essential component of universal health coverage (UHC). In determining which SRHR interventions to include in their UHC benefits package, countries are...
Is tenofovir disoproxil fumarate associated with weight loss?
Background: Recent clinical trials have shown weight gain associated with newer antiretrovirals. It is unclear how the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor backbone affects weight. Recent evidence suggests greater weight gain with...
HIV test coverage among pregnant women in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test during pregnancy is the gateway to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Estimating the national uptake of HIV tests among pregnant...
“Slam Sex”—Sexualized Injecting Drug Use (“SIDU”) Amongst Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)—A Scoping Review
Sexualized injecting drug use (“SIDU”) is a phenomenon associated with a wide array of high-risk injecting and sex-related practices. This scoping review establishes what is known about MSM and SIDU...
Effects of telehealth-assisted interventions among people living with HIV/AIDS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
Introduction: Taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a daily necessity for people living with HIV but these individuals experience multiple barriers and challenges to medication adherence. Interventions to support medication adherence have...
Under-nutrition and associated factors among children infected with human immunodeficiency virus in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background In the developing world, such as the sub-Saharan African region, HIV/AIDS has worsened the impact of under-nutrition in children. HIV infected children are highly vulnerable to under-nutrition. Therefore, the...
Hepatitis B virus genetic multiplicity and the associated HBV lamivudine resistance mutations in HBV/HIV co-infection in Western Kenya: A review article
Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infections are common as the two viruses use same routes of transmission. Studies show that HIV infection modifies the natural course...
Decade of research into the acceptability of interventions aimed at improving adolescent and youth health and social outcomes in Africa: A systematic review and evidence map
OBJECTIVE: Interventions aimed at improving adolescent health and social outcomes are more likely to be successful if the young people they target find them acceptable. However, no standard definitions or...
