Category Archives: Health Systems
Role of pharmacists in HIV prophylaxis: A scoping review of pharmacists’ services, interventions and outcomes
INTRODUCTION: HIV remains a major global public health challenge, with nearly 1.3 million new HIV acquisitions annually. Despite the effectiveness of pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), barriers to access,...
Knowledge of reproductive-age women about mother-to-child transmission of HIV and associated factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: Despite significant efforts to manage and prevent HIV, knowledge gaps persist regarding mother-to-child transmission of HIV among women of reproductive age. Previous studies, limited in scope and producing inconsistent...
Analytical techniques for laboratory testing of HIV: A systematic review
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), remains a significant global public health threat. Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reduce HIV viral loads to undetectable levels....
Obstetric nurses’ approach to evidence-based practice in breastfeeding within the context of HIV: A scoping review
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Human immunodeficiency virus remains a significant public health challenge, with breastfeeding contributing to the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Although antiretroviral therapy significantly reduces this risk, obstetric nurses face complex...
Machine learning in HIV care and antiretroviral therapy: Systematic review
BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding across various medical fields, with machine learning (ML) being increasingly used to enhance patient management in diagnosis, prevention, and therapeutic care. OBJECTIVE: This study...
Risk factors for HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment and frailty in aging people with HIV in Latin America: A systematic review
Background As people living with HIV (PWH) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have longer life expectancy due to improved access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), complications such as HIV-associated...
Systematic review and network meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions on antiretroviral therapy adherence
BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for prolonging the lives of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but adherence remains suboptimal. Psychosocial interventions show promise for improving ART adherence, yet...
Age-specific distribution of cervical precancer and cancer among women living with HIV across seven countries: A systematic review and an individual patient data meta-analysis
Background Women living with HIV have an elevated risk for cervical cancer, present earlier, and have more recurrent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections compared with women without HIV. To update WHO recommendations...
Closing diagnostic gaps in pediatric HIV: Innovations in point-of-care and digital monitoring with an Asia-Pacific implementation lens—A systematic review
Background/Objectives: Pediatric HIV case-finding and monitoring remain constrained by delayed early infant diagnosis (EID), loss to follow-up, and limited viral load (VL) testing-challenges particularly consequential in the operationally diverse Asia-Pacific...
HIV self-testing and clinician-administered testing in Southern Africa: A systematic review of programmatic outcomes
Objective: In 2024, an estimated 5.3 million of 40.8 million people with HIV (PWH) globally were unaware of their status, with Southern Africa bearing the highest regional burden. This review synthesizes...
Person-centred HIV prevention services in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: In spite of numerous advancements in HIV prevention, there are still gaps that impede reaching key populations throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Traditional approaches usually overlook personal preferences, social context and...
