Category Archives: Health Systems
HIV vulnerability among adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of individual social and structural determinants
BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15 to 24 years continue to bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Although substantial research has examined behavioral...
Integrating smoking cessation into HIV care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness and the evidence gap in cost-effectiveness
The prevalence of smoking among people living with HIV (PLWH) is higher than in the general population, and PLWH who smoke are at increased risk of both smoking- and HIV-related...
Exercise as a preventive and therapeutic strategy for non-communicable diseases in people living with HIV: Evidence, mechanisms and clinical implications
Objective To synthesise evidence on exercise for preventing and managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among HIV clients, emphasising sub-Saharan Africa. Design Narrative review. Data sources Meta-analyses, randomised trials, cohort studies, mechanistic...
Integrated care models for HIV, diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of effectiveness, implementation and real-world applicability
Background Sub-Saharan Africa faces a syndemic of HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes and hypertension. Integrated care models have been promoted to improve service efficiency and patient outcomes; however,...
Oral health education interventions for people living with HIV: A scoping review of delivery approaches and reported outcomes
Background People living with HIV (PLWH) experience a high burden of oral diseases that can impair daily function and affect adherence to HIV care. Oral health education has the potential...
Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol among older people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: Metabolic comorbidities are significant health challenges for older people living with HIV (PLHIV). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize existing evidence and provide the pooled prevalence of...
The role of religion and spirituality in HIV prevention: A systematic literature review and network analysis
Religion and spirituality play an important role in shaping attitudes, beliefs, social norms, and preventive behaviors related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention across diverse populations and cultural settings. This...
Mapping psychosocial interventions for mental health and well-being among pregnant women living with HIV: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Pregnant women living with HIV are at increased risk of depression, anxiety, stigma, gender-based violence, and poor engagement in prevention of mother-to-child transmission services. Psychosocial interventions are increasingly used...
Housing instability as a barrier to HIV viral suppression: Evidence from a U.S. systematic review and meta-analysis
Housing instability and homelessness remain pervasive structural determinants of poor HIV outcomes in the United States. People living with HIV (PLWH) who experience homelessness face intersecting barriers, including stigma, behavioral...
Global prevalence and biopsychosocial correlates of psychological distress among people living with HIV: An updated theory-informed meta-analysis
Introduction: Psychological distress (PD) is common among people living with HIV (PLWH), but prevalence estimates vary substantially. This study aimed to synthesize the prevalence of PD among PLWH and examine...
Family-centred care for children and adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
Introduction Children and adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continue to face significant barriers to diagnosis, treatment adherence, retention in care and psychosocial support, despite progress in prevention...
Barriers and facilitators to preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
Women account for 59% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection cases in sub-Saharan Africa. This impacts the increase in mother-to-child HIV transmission rates and presents challenges to preventive care for...
