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Olum R, Geng EH, Kitutu FE, Musoke PM. Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effect of a community-led HIV self-testing model among adolescent girls and young women in Rural Northern Uganda: a quasi-experimental study protocol. Implement Sci Commun 2024; 5:56. [PMID: 38773505 PMCID: PMC11110295 DOI: 10.1186/s43058-024-00596-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa face a disproportionately higher HIV/AIDS burden despite the global decline in incidence. Existing interventions often fail to adequately address their unique social, economic, and cultural challenges, limiting access to essential HIV/AIDS services, including HIV testing. Emerging evidence indicates that HIV self-testing, a user-friendly and confidential method, enhances HIV diagnosis and linkage to care by targeting these barriers. This study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of a peer-delivered, community-health worker (CHW)-facilitated HIV self-testing intervention for AGYW in Northern Uganda. METHODS This mixed-methods quasi-experimental implementation science study will employ a three-fold approach. Firstly, we will conduct baseline formative qualitative research with 50 AGYW, 50 parents/partners to AGYW, 30 CHWs, 15 community leaders, and the district health office to inform the design of a peer-delivered CHW-facilitated HIV self-testing intervention tailored to AGYW's needs in Northern Uganda. Secondly, we will implement a mixed-methods pilot study to assess the intervention's feasibility and acceptability, involving 415 AGYW, 30 AGYW peer leaders, and 10 CHWs in selected parishes and villages in Omoro district, Northern Uganda. Lastly, we will evaluate the implementation outcomes and preliminary impact of the intervention on HIV self-testing rates and linkage to care by collecting and analyzing quantitative data pre- and post-intervention, laying the groundwork for a future robust randomized controlled trial. DISCUSSION Our intervention combines CHWs and peer-led strategies to address the unique challenges of AGYW in Northern Uganda, leveraging community resilience and peer influence. Successful completion of this project will provide a scalable model to be evaluated in a randomized trial and replicated in similar contexts. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER PACTR202404851907736. Registered with the Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry on April 22, 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Olum
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Elvin H Geng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St Louis, MO, St Louis, USA
| | - Freddy E Kitutu
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Philippa M Musoke
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Makerere University-John Hopkins University (MU-JHU) Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
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Xia H, Li L, Wu Y, Gao L, Zhang D, Ma P. Rapid Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy Under the Treat-All Policy Reduces Loss to Follow-Up and Virological Failure in Routine Human Immunodeficiency Virus Care Settings in China: A Retrospective Cohort Study (2016-2022). AIDS Patient Care STDS 2024; 38:168-176. [PMID: 38656215 DOI: 10.1089/apc.2024.0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Following the World Health Organization's guidelines for rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation [≤7 days after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis], China implemented Treat-All in 2016 and has made significant efforts to provide timely ART since 2017. This study included newly diagnosed HIV adults from Tianjin, China, between 2016 and 2022. Our primary outcome was loss to follow-up (LTFU) at 12 months after enrollment. The secondary outcome was 12-month virological failure. The association between rapid ART and LTFU, as well as virological failure, was assessed via Cox regression and logistic regression. A total of 896 (19.1%) of 4688 participants received ART ≤7 days postdiagnosis. The rate of rapid ART has increased from 7.5% in 2016 to 33.3% by 2022. The rapid ART group had an LTFU rate of 3.3%, as opposed to 5.0% in the delayed group. The rapid ART group had a much reduced virological failure rate (0.6% vs. 1.8%). Rapid ART individuals had a reduced likelihood of LTFU [adjusted hazard ratio: 0.65, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.44-0.96] and virological failure (adjusted odds ratio: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.12-0.80). The real-world data indicated that rapid ART is practicable and beneficial for Chinese people with HIV, providing evidence for its widespread implementation and scaling up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Xia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Liying Gao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Defa Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Gesesew HA. World AIDS Day 2023: time to prioritize perilous HIV medicine. Confl Health 2024; 18:15. [PMID: 38409053 PMCID: PMC10895738 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-024-00573-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND World AIDS Day has been observed on the first of December every year. Whilst there are specific themes during the commemoration, the role of conflict on HIV seems neglected and needs prioritization given the rise of conflicts globally. DISCUSSION The global HIV response brought substantial reduction of new HIV infections and HIV-related deaths, and increment of antiretroviral therapy coverage. Nevertheless, there is substantial inequity on the benefit of the response. Individuals with HIV in conflict zones have suffered immensely and are often neglected. The fact that the level, intensity, and number of conflicts is increasing mean more HIV people in conflict or post-conflict settings such as in Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Yemen Russia and Ukraine are at risk of negative HIV care and treatment outcomes. In particular, some conflicts such as the case of Ethiopia's Tigray have been marked by severe public and humanitarian crises, including medical siege, intentional damage of healthcare infrastructure, targeted attacks on health workers, displacement, and appalling incidents of conflict-related sexual violence. Yet, people living with HIV in these conflict settings seem often overlooked. It is crucial to address the unique challenges in these areas to achieve the goals of AIDS/HIV care. CONCLUSION There is no ideal forum to remind the intricate relationship between conflict and the HIV epidemic other than the World AIDS Day. Thus, this this year's World AIDS Day should focus on prioritizing on tackling the direct and indirect effects of conflict on HIV transmission and treatment. This way, we can achieve the ambitious UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals and Ending AIDS by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailay Abrha Gesesew
- Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
- Tigray Health Research Institute (THRI), Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
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Jin D, Jin S, Zhou T, Cui Z, Guo B, Li G, Zhang C. Regional variation in NAFLD prevalence and risk factors among people living with HIV in Europe: a meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1295165. [PMID: 38259755 PMCID: PMC10802187 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1295165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Europe faces an elevated risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among people living with HIV (PLWH), contributing to the region's highest global burden of NAFLD. However, the prevalence of NAFLD across various European countries and regions remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with NAFLD among PLWH across European countries. Methods A systematic search was conducted across four databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Data on the prevalence of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and fibrosis, as well as the associated risk factors, were collected among PLWH in Europe. Results Thirty-six studies from 13 European nations were included. The prevalence of NAFLD, NASH, and fibrosis were 42% (95%CI 37-48), 35% (95%CI 21-50) and 13% (95%CI 10-15), respectively. Male gender, BMI, waist circumference, Diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, ALT, AST, and years on antiretroviral therapy (ART) were found to be risk factors for NAFLD. High BMI and triglycerides were associated with NASH. Patients with high BMI and triglycerides are at increased risk of significant liver fibrosis. Conclusion The high prevalence of NAFLD, NASH, and fibrosis among PLWH in Europe highlights the need for early screening, intervention, and increased research focus on adolescents living with HIV. Furthermore, the significant variations observed between countries and regions underscore the influence of related risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dachuan Jin
- Clinical Laboratory, Sixth People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shunqin Jin
- Department of Radiology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Proteomics of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhongfeng Cui
- Clinical Laboratory, Sixth People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Baoqiang Guo
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Guangming Li
- Department of Liver Disease, Sixth People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chunming Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Sixth People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, China
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Silhol R, Anderson RL, Stevens O, Stannah J, Booton RD, Baral S, Dimitrov D, Mitchell KM, Donnell D, Bershteyn A, Brown T, Kelly SL, Kim HY, Johnson LF, Maheu-Giroux M, Martin-Hughes R, Mishra S, Peerapatanapokin W, Stone J, Stover J, Teng Y, Vickerman P, Garcia SA, Korenromp E, Imai-Eaton JW, Boily MC. Measuring HIV Acquisitions Among Partners of Key Populations: Estimates From HIV Transmission Dynamic Models. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2024; 95:e59-e69. [PMID: 38180739 PMCID: PMC10769162 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Key populations (KPs), including female sex workers (FSWs), gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and transgender women (TGW) experience disproportionate risks of HIV acquisition. The UNAIDS Global AIDS 2022 Update reported that one-quarter of all new HIV infections occurred among their non-KP sexual partners. However, this fraction relied on heuristics regarding the ratio of new infections that KPs transmitted to their non-KP partners to the new infections acquired among KPs (herein referred to as "infection ratios"). We recalculated these ratios using dynamic transmission models. SETTING One hundred seventy-eight settings (106 countries). METHODS Infection ratios for FSW, MSM, PWID, TGW, and clients of FSW were estimated from 12 models for 2020. RESULTS Median model estimates of infection ratios were 0.7 (interquartile range: 0.5-1.0; n = 172 estimates) and 1.2 (0.8-1.8; n = 127) for acquisitions from FSW clients and transmissions from FSW to all their non-KP partners, respectively, which were comparable with the previous UNAIDS assumptions (0.2-1.5 across regions). Model estimates for female partners of MSM were 0.5 (0.2-0.8; n = 20) and 0.3 (0.2-0.4; n = 10) for partners of PWID across settings in Eastern and Southern Africa, lower than the corresponding UNAIDS assumptions (0.9 and 0.8, respectively). The few available model estimates for TGW were higher [5.1 (1.2-7.0; n = 8)] than the UNAIDS assumptions (0.1-0.3). Model estimates for non-FSW partners of FSW clients in Western and Central Africa were high (1.7; 1.0-2.3; n = 29). CONCLUSIONS Ratios of new infections among non-KP partners relative to KP were high, confirming the importance of better addressing prevention and treatment needs among KP as central to reducing overall HIV incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Silhol
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- HIV Prevention Trials Network Modelling Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca L. Anderson
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Stevens
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Stannah
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ross D. Booton
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Dobromir Dimitrov
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Kate M. Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- HIV Prevention Trials Network Modelling Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Nursing and Community Health, Glasgow Caledonian University London, London, United Kindom
| | - Deborah Donnell
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Anna Bershteyn
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Tim Brown
- Research Program, East-West Center, Honolulu, HI
| | | | - Hae-Young Kim
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Leigh F. Johnson
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mathieu Maheu-Giroux
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Sharmistha Mishra
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jack Stone
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - Yu Teng
- Avenir Health, Glastonbury, CT
| | - Peter Vickerman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Jeffrey W. Imai-Eaton
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Marie-Claude Boily
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- HIV Prevention Trials Network Modelling Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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