Category Archives: Health Systems
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...
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,...
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...
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...
