Category Archives: Health Systems
Influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis from a public health policy perspective
BACKGROUND: Immunocompromised patients are vulnerable to severe or complicated influenza infection. Vaccination is widely recommended for this group. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses influenza vaccination for immunocompromised patients in...
Linking sexual and reproductive health and HIV interventions: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: The international community agrees that the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved without ensuring universal access to both sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment,...
The nursing implications of routine provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling in sub-Saharan Africa: A critical review of new policy guidance from WHO/UNAIDS
BACKGROUND: In 2007 WHO/UNAIDS issued new HIV testing guidelines recommending ‘provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling’ (PITC). In contrast to existing ‘voluntary counselling and testing’ guidelines (whereby individuals self refer for...
Treatment, care and support for people co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C: A scoping review
Background: Providing care for people who are co-infected with both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is becoming increasingly complex and requires integrated prevention, screening, support and programming efforts. We...
Modeling the cost-effectiveness of HIV treatment: how to buy the most ‘health’ when resources are limited
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize recent cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) that evaluate optimal treatment strategies for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). RECENT FINDINGS: Efforts to attain universal coverage of current treatment...
The cost of treatment and care for people living with HIV infection: Implications of published studies, 1999-2008
Purpose of review: Increasing number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) will require expanded access to health services. Countries need robust and contemporary strategic information on the cost of care...
Clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa and established standards of care: A systematic review of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria trials
Context: The minimum standard of care required for participants in clinical trials conducted in resource-poor settings is a matter of controversy; international documents offer contradictory guidance. Objective: To determine whether...
Pharmaco-economics of blood transfusion safety: Review of the available evidence
Background and Objectives: Pharmaco-economics provides a standardized methodology for valid comparisons of interventions in different fields of health care. The role of pharmaco-economics in the safety of blood and blood...
Experiences integrating delivery of maternal and child health services with childhood immunization programs: Systematic review update
BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund promote integration of maternal and child health (MCH) and immunization services as a strategy to strengthen immunization programs. We...
Chronic Care Model decision support and clinical information systems interventions for people living with HIV: a systematic review
BACKGROUND: The Chronic Care Model is an effective framework for improving chronic disease management. There is scarce literature describing this model for people living with HIV. Decision Support (DS) and...
