Category Archives: Health Systems
Leveraging the lessons learned from financing HIV programs to advance the universal health coverage (UHC) agenda in the East African community
Background: Although there is broad consensus around the need to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) in Sub-Saharan Africa, the financing strategies for achieving it are still unclear. We...
The impact, cost and cost-effectiveness of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review of modelling contributions and way forward
INTRODUCTION: Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a new form of HIV prevention being considered for inclusion in national prevention portfolios. Many mathematical modelling studies have been undertaken that speak to...
Providing competent, comprehensive and inclusive sexual health services for men who have sex with men in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review
Although men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmissible infections, sexual health services for MSM in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) remain...
A systematic review of monitoring and evaluation indicators for sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian settings
Objective: To conduct a comprehensive mapping of published indicators for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and outcomes in humanitarian settings. Methods: A systematic search...
Electronic health interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy in people living With HIV: Systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Electronic health (eHealth) is increasingly used for self-management and service delivery of HIV-related diseases. With the publication of studies increasingly focusing on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, this makes it...
The effects of decentralising antiretroviral therapy care delivery on health outcomes for adolescents and young adults in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review
Background: Decentralisation of antiretroviral therapy has been implemented to scale up HIV care provision for patients in resource-limited countries. Youth living with HIV demonstrate the poorest care outcomes, compared to...
What will it take for the global plan priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV?
BACKGROUND: The 2016 ‘Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free’ global agenda, builds on the 2011-2015 ‘Global Plan’. It prioritises 22 countries where 90% of the world’s HIV-positive pregnant women live...
Views of service providers and adolescents on use of sexual and reproductive health services by adolescents: A systematic review
This review examines the literature on adolescents’ and providers’ views on access and use of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information and services. The SRH services referred to in this...
Pharmacy-based sexual health services: A systematic review of experiences and attitudes of pharmacy users and pharmacy staff
BACKGROUND: Pharmacies are increasingly providing services related to contraception and STIs. Identifying pharmacy staff’ and users’ experiences and attitudes relating to sexual health services is critical to understand users’ needs...
Effect of organizational models of provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC) in health facilities on adult HIV testing coverage in sub-Saharan Africa
The purpose of this paper is to identify which Provider-Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling (PITC) organizational models are the most efficient to maximize testing coverage. We conducted a systematic literature...
Do quality improvement initiatives improve outcomes for patients in antiretroviral programs in low- and middle-income countries? A systematic review
Background: There have been a range of quality improvement (QI) and quality assurance initiatives in low- and middle-income countries to improve antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment outcomes for people living with HIV....
