Category Archives: Health Systems
Community-based rapid testing for HIV in Europe and Central Asia: A narrative review of models, effectiveness, and implementation challenges
This narrative review examines the evolution, implementation, and impact of Community-Based HIV Testing (CBT) across Europe and Central Asia (ECA), a region where late diagnosis remains a persistent challenge and...
Body image and its associated factors among people living with HIV: A scoping review and implications for integrated care
People living with HIV (PLWH) face unique biopsychosocial challenges due to both infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART), one of which is body image disruption. This study comprehensively reviewed relevant studies...
Effectiveness of friendship bench in alleviating anxiety and depression symptoms among people living with HIV and high-risk populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the Friendship Bench (FB) intervention’s efficacy in relieving anxiety and depression among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and high-risk populations, explored intervention effect heterogeneity,...
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...
From community engagement to lived experience leadership: A systematic review of HIV services among men who have sex with men
Community responses are essential to achieving the global goal of Ending AIDS by 2030, yet men who have sex with men (MSM) remain underrepresented and often tokenized within HIV initiatives....
Usable access to HIV testing and care among people with migrant backgrounds in Japan: A systematic review
OBJECTIVES: Japan’s growing migrant population has increased the need for HIV services usable across linguistic, administrative and social circumstances. We reviewed evidence on access to HIV testing and care among...
What tools do we have to end the US HIV epidemic? A review of structural, biomedical and implementation interventions and their potential population impact
INTRODUCTION: The United States Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative was always challenged by structural and implementation barriers to HIV care. On top of that, since 2025, there are additional...
Assessing the impact, barriers and facilitators of peer-driven interventions on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: Peer interventions may improve retention across the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) cascade in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains a major barrier....
Breastfeeding practices and perspectives in the setting of maternal HIV in high-income countries since the shift in the United States national guidelines: A scoping review
Introduction: United States national guidelines around infant feeding in the setting of maternal HIV were updated significantly in 2023. The updated guidelines encourage evidence-based counseling and emphasize shared decision-making around infant...
Assessment of knowledge and use of HIV primary and secondary prevention strategies in Portugal: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Portugal has been committed to achieve UNAIDS target goals by the end of 2030 by improving accessibility of prevention programs to the general population and key populations. However, Portugal...
