Category Archives: Health Systems
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...
A scoping review of mobile health for ART adherence in pregnant and breastfeeding women with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: preferences, acceptability, and privacy concerns
BACKGROUND: Interventions involving Mobile Health (mHealth) have shown promise to improve retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among pregnant or breastfeeding women living with HIV (PBWLH). However,...
Incidence of loss to follow-up among East African adults on antiretroviral therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Individuals with human immunodeficiency virus receive antiretroviral treatment regardless of their clinical stage or CD4 count. While the “Universal Test and Treat” approach offers benefits, loss to follow-up remains...
Factors influencing antiretroviral therapy adherence among youth living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is vital for controlling the viral load and disease progression in people living with HIV. Previous reviews on ART adherence among youths living with...
Contextual and culturally adapted interventions to improve HIV outcomes: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy is widely available, yet structural, social, and cultural barriers still limit human immunodeficiency virus prevention and care. Prevention tools such as consistent condom use and pre-exposure prophylaxis...
Promoting Healthy Aging Through Mindfulness and Yoga: A Systematic Review of Interventions for People Living with HIV Who Use Drugs or Who Have a History of Substance Use
Advances in HIV care and broader access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) have extended life expectancy for people living with HIV, yet aging-related health concerns, especially among those who use substances,...
Viral load suppression after enhanced adherence counseling among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (2019-2024): A systematic review and meta-analysis in East Africa
INTRODUCTION: Viral load suppression is essential for reducing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related morbidity and mortality. To eliminate the HIV epidemic and enhance adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) globally, the...
Unveiling the underestimated prevalence of HIV, HBV and TB triple infection in Asia, South America, and Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a genus of retroviruses that targets immune cells and may eventually cause immune-deficiency illness. Triple infection of HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) /tuberculosis (TB) leads...
The effect of Chinese medicine therapeutics on HIV/AIDS: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively suppresses HIV, incomplete immune reconstitution affects 20%-30% of adherent patients. Chinese Medicine (CM) demonstrates potential as a complementary therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired...
Influences of Gender-Based Stigma on HIV Prevention and Care Among Older Women: A Scoping Review
Older women living with HIV are uniquely situated at multiple marginalized intersections because of their gender, age, and HIV status. However, research into how gender-based stigma (GBS) affects HIV prevention...
HIV self-testing and partner notification strategies for key populations in low- to upper-middle-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review
BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) enhances case diagnosis, but information on its integration for index testing to partner notification is limited. Assessing the acceptability and feasibility of index HIVST and partner...
Moxibustion for human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and its complications: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of moxibustion on people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across eight electronic...
