Category Archives: Testing
Evidence for optimal HIV screening and testing intervals in HIV-negative individuals from various risk groups: A systematic review
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing plays a crucial role in Canada’s HIV prevention and treatment efforts and is the first step to achieving the Joint United Nations Programme on...
HIV testing barriers and intervention strategies among men, transgender women, female sex workers and incarcerated persons in the Caribbean: A systematic review
BACKGROUND: This systematic review summarises evidence on the HIV testing barriers and intervention strategies among Caribbean populations and provides pertinent implications for future research endeavours designed to increase rates of...
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...
Interventions to reduce gender-based violence among young people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in low-income and middle-income countries
OBJECTIVE(S): This study explored the effectiveness of gender-based violence (GBV) interventions on young people living with or affected by HIV in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). DESIGN: Systematic review and...
Getting youth PrEPared: Adolescent consent laws and implications for the availability of PrEP among youth in countries outside of the United States
INTRODUCTION: Youth under the age of 25 are at high risk for HIV infection. While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has the potential to curb new infections within this population, it is...
HIV prevalence among tuberculosis patients in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
HIV associated tuberculosis (TB) morbidity and mortality is a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the level of HIV infection among TB patients is vital for adequate response. We conducted...
The use of technology for sexually transmitted disease partner services in the United States: A structured review
BACKGROUND: Since the late 1990s, health departments and sexually transmitted disease (STD) programs throughout the United States have used technologies, such as the Internet and mobile phones, to provide services...
Scaling up HIV self-testing in sub-Saharan Africa: A review of technology, policy and evidence
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: HIV self-testing (HIVST) can provide complementary coverage to existing HIV testing services and improve knowledge of status among HIV-infected individuals. This review summarizes the current technology, policy...
Strategies to link people with undiagnosed HIV infection to HIV testing, care, and prevention services
Key take-home messages A variety of strategies have shown promise for identifying individuals with undiagnosed HIV and engaging them with HIV testing using clinical, community-based, network-based, and self-directed approaches. Various...
Which community-based HIV initiatives are effective in achieving UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets? A systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence (2007-2018)
BACKGROUND: Reaching the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets to end the HIV epidemic relies on effective interventions that engage untested HIV+ individuals and retain them in...
Systematic review of the performance and clinical utility of point of care HIV-1 RNA testing for diagnosis and care
BACKGROUND: Point of-care (POC) HIV-1 RNA tests which are accurate and easy to use with limited infrastructure are needed in resource-limited settings (RLS). We systematically reviewed evidence of POC test...
