Category Archives: Health Systems
Rapid diagnostic tests, laboratory-based immunoassay and nucleic acid testing strategies for long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (LAI-PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical intervention for the prevention of HIV acquisition. There is a strong interest among communities and policymakers for LAI-PrEP scale-up,...
Effectiveness of mobile health (mHealth) interventions on ART adherence among people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential for HIV treatment, yet maintaining high adherence remains challenging in resource-limited settings. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer a scalable approach to support adherence. This meta-analysis...
Worldwide changes in HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV: A cross-temporal meta-analysis and systematic review
Background: HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV has emerged as a growing public health concern, yet limited longitudinal data are available to characterize its evolution over time. In this study,...
Barriers and facilitators influencing PrEP uptake among men who have sex with men and transgender women in the United States: A systematic review
In the United States, men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) have high HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, yet uptake rates remain extremely low. This signifies...
Incidence and predictors of loss to follow-up among adults on antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
Background Loss to follow-up (LTFU) from antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains a major public health concern worldwide, including in Ethiopia. However, nationally representative pooled cohort data on LTFU among adults receiving...
Rifapentine-isoniazid versus isoniazid-alone therapy for tuberculosis prevention among people living with HIV (PLHIV): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials
Introduction Tuberculosis (TB), a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), accounted for 161,000 deaths among HIV-co-infected patients in 2023. Tuberculosis preventive therapy...
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the MENA region: A systematic review with comparative evidence from sub-Saharan Africa
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces distinct challenges in addressing the HIV epidemic, including social stigma, limited surveillance data, and insufficient coverage of prevention services. Prevention of...
Effects of transition from paediatric to adult HIV care on virological outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background: HIV remains a major global burden, with 2.4 million children and adolescents affected, 84% living in sub-Saharan Africa. As adolescents age, transitioning from paediatric to adult HIV care represents a...
Factors influencing implementation of point-of-care tests for maternal and newborn screening and diagnosis in low-resource settings: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Despite the potential of point-of-care (POC) tests to improve maternal and newborn health, implementation in low- and middle-income countries remains inconsistent. POC testing enables rapid, decentralized screening, but barriers...
Surveillance of HIV-1 drug resistance in Tanzania across the pre- and post-dolutegravir eras: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the prevalence, mutation patterns, and factors associated with HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) in Tanzania. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase from January 1, 2006, to...
Strategies to integrate non-communicable disease interventions in HIV and tuberculosis care contexts in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review
INTRODUCTION: Integration of management of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV with prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a global priority. However, delivering the full spectrum of HIV/TB and NCD...
Alternative administration of antiretroviral therapy in people with HIV unable to swallow: A scoping review
PURPOSE: To review published evidence on alternative administration methods for antiretroviral therapy in patients unable to swallow tablets. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review using PubMed, Web of Science, and...
