Category Archives: Health Systems
The global pendulum swing towards community health workers in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review of trends, geographical distribution and programmatic orientations, 2005 to 2014
BACKGROUND: There has been a substantial increase in publications and interest in community health workers (CHWs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) over the last years. This paper examines the...
A very low number of national adaptations of the World Health Organization guidelines for HIV and tuberculosis reported their processes
BACKGROUND: Low- and middle-income countries adapt World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines instead of de novo development for financial, epidemiologic, sociopolitical, cultural, organizational, and other reasons. OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate reported...
Barriers and facilitators of interventions for improving antiretroviral therapy adherence: A systematic review of global qualitative evidence
INTRODUCTION: Qualitative research on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence interventions can provide a deeper understanding of intervention facilitators and barriers. This systematic review aims to synthesize qualitative evidence of interventions for...
Toward the sustainability of health interventions implemented in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and conceptual framework
BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is facing a double burden of disease with a rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) while the burden of communicable diseases (CDs) remains high. Despite these...
Effectiveness of pharmacy-based needle/syringe exchange programme for people who inject drugs: A systematic review and meta-analysis
AIMS: To appraise the evidence critically for effectiveness of pharmacy-based needle/syringe exchange programmes (pharmacy-based NSPs) on risk behaviours (RBs), HIV/HCV prevalence and economic outcomes among people who inject drugs (PWID)....
Lack of sexual minorities’ rights as a barrier to HIV prevention among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Asia: A systematic review
This study set out to assess the relationship between variation in human rights for sexual minorities in Asian countries and indicators of HIV prevention among men who have sex with...
The impact of criminalization of HIV non-disclosure on the healthcare engagement of women living with HIV in Canada: A comprehensive review of the evidence
INTRODUCTION: In 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that people living with HIV (PLWH) must disclose their HIV status to sexual partners prior to sexual activity that poses a...
Reclaiming fertility awareness methods to inform timed intercourse for HIV serodiscordant couples attempting to conceive
INTRODUCTION: Increased life expectancy of HIV-positive individuals during recent years has drawn attention to their quality of life, which includes fulfillment of fertility desires. In particular, heterosexual HIV serodiscordant couples...
Healthcare programmes for truck drivers in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Truck drivers have unique health needs, and by virtue of their continuous travel, experience difficulty in accessing healthcare. Currently, planning for effective care is hindered by lack of knowledge...
Information and communication technologies for adherence to antiretroviral treatment in adults with HIV/AIDS
INTRODUCTION: Information and communication technologies support interventions directed at the prevention of HIV transmission and patient monitoring by promoting improved accessibility and quality of care. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy...
