Category Archives: Testing
Pre-exposure prophylaxis access, uptake and usage by young people: A systematic review of barriers and facilitators
BACKGROUND: Young people’s sexual health decision-making, including decisions to access and adhere to HIV prevention strategies such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), are influenced by a range of internal and external...
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV healthcare delivery for females in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
Throughout sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), females are disproportionately impacted by HIV and face generalized but also gendered social and economic barriers to accessing HIV healthcare and services. At the outset of...
Predictors of maternal HIV acquisition during pregnancy and lactation in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and narrative synthesis
OBJECTIVES: To eliminate vertical transmission of HIV, global institutions recommend using a risk-guided approach for HIV prevention services in antenatal and postnatal settings. Identifying predictors of maternal HIV acquisition can...
Understanding human papillomavirus vaccine response and efficacy in people living with HIV: A systematic mixed studies review and meta-analysis
Coinfection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV compounds the risks of developing cervical, anal, and HPV-associated oral neoplasia. Safe prophylactic vaccines are available to prevent HPV infections in people with...
Caring for a young child who is HIV exposed and whose HIV status is not yet known: A scoping review of mothers’ experiences
Living with HIV can affect mothers’ wellbeing, functioning, and experiences of caregiving. Most research about caregiving in the context of HIV comes from studies of dyads where both mother and...
Genetic variation on dolutegravir pharmacokinetics and relation to safety and efficacy outcomes: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: Dolutegravir (DTG) is an antiviral agent used for the treatment of HIV, however, there is uncertainty over the influence of genetic variation on DTG exposure, and whether it has...
Barriers and facilitators of HIV partner status notification in low- and lower-middle-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review
BACKGROUND: The uptake of HIV partner status notification remains limited in low- and lower-middle-income countries. This mixed-methods systematic reviewAÿaims to summarize the barriers and facilitators of HIV partner status notification...
Depressive symptoms and HIV viral suppression: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Previous research suggests that depression impacts HIV outcomes, including viral suppression. This meta-analysis quantifies the association between depression and HIV viral suppression. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed,...
Application of the COM-B model to facilitators and barriers to HIV and STI testing among people from Black African and Black Caribbean communities in the UK: A scoping review
OBJECTIVE: Individuals from Black African and Black Caribbean communities (black communities) in the UK bear a disproportionate burden of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), while exhibiting lower testing rates....
Onset and predictors of first-line antiretroviral therapy treatment failure among children in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction: The emergence of First-line Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) regimens fails; it necessitates the use of more costly and less tolerable second-line medications. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and address factors...
Barriers to PrEP use and adherence among adolescent girls and young women in Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa: A scoping review
BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Globally, in 2022, an estimated 4000 AGYW 15–24 were newly infected with HIV weekly, and nearly 78% of...
