Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Hospitalized Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Zahedan, Southeastern Iran

Prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis among people living with HIV in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Up to now several studies estimate the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and TB among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Iran; however, their results are inconsistent. This study aimed to estimate the overall prevalence of HBV, HVC, and TB among Iranian PLWH.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis six databases including Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, MagIran, Scientific Information Database (SID), and Barakat Knowledge network system were searched up to October 2023 with no language restriction. All studies estimated the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and TB among PLWH in Iran were included. The random-effects model was used to report the study estimates. Results were reported at a 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Out of 1050 retrieved references, 58 articles met the eligibility criteria. Overall among PLWH, HBV prevalence was 13.0% (95% CI: 11.0, 15.0), HCV prevalence was 54% (95% CI: 45.0, 64.0), and TB prevalence was 19% (95% CI: 13.0, 24.0). The results from multivariate meta-regression analysis showed no statistically significant association between HBV and TB prevalence with the year of study, quality of studies, age, gender, and persons who inject drugs (PWID). HCV prevalence was significantly associated with PWID.

CONCLUSION

We found HBV, HCV, and TB infections are common among PLWH in Iran and required to be screened and treated with effective and timely services.

Sociobehavioral Risk Factors and Clinical Implications of Late Presentation Among People Living with HIV in the Brazilian Amazon Region

This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, sociobehavioral factors and clinical-laboratory consequences of late presentation among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Brazilian Amazon region. In total, 402 HIV + individuals treated at reference units in Belém city (Pará, Brazil) between 2018 and 2019 were evaluated. Late presentation was defined as a first-collection LTCD4+ count below 350 cells/µL. Sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical data were obtained from questionnaires or medical records. Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokine profiles were evaluated by flow cytometry. Longitudinal data on viral load, T lymphocytes, and antiretroviral therapy administration were obtained from control and logistic databases. Approximately 52.73% of the participants were late presenters and sought medical care 7-12 + months after their primary HIV diagnosis. Sociobehavioral factors associated with late presentation included illicit drug use for more than 5 years, polyamory, no alcohol consumption, homosexuality, and sexual inactiveness after HIV diagnosis. Clinically, late presentation was associated with coinfection rate; polysymptomatology; high IFN-ɣ, IL-6 and IL-10 levels; nonresponse to antiretroviral therapy; and virological failure- and tuberculosis coinfection-motivated changes to therapy. In summary, the prevalence of late presentation in Pará in the Brazilian Amazon region is high. Delays in seeking specialized care after a primary HIV diagnosis cause medium/long-term changes in the life expectancy and health of PLHIV.

Assessment of prevalence and risk factors associated with Hepatitis B virus infection among blood donors in Mogadishu Somalia

BACKGROUND

The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is transmitted through contaminated blood or bodily fluids. Globally, over 81 million blood units are donated annually, a crucial therapeutic procedure without alternatives. However, blood-borne infections, including HBV, pose a significant hurdle to safe transfusions, especially in HBV-endemic regions like Somalia with limited screening. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection and identify risk factors associated with it among blood donors in Mogadishu, Somalia.

METHOD

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2023. Research tools included a 5-ml blood sample and a structured questionnaire. The presence or absence of HB markers was determined using a multi-HB rapid test and CDC's HB marker interpretation guideline. Logistic regression was used in univariate and multivariate models to identify risk factors associated with HBV infection, with significance set at a p-value < 0.05 in the final model.

RESULT

A total of 494 blood donors were recruited for this study; 93.9% were male, with a mean age of 31.5 (SD = 8.11). The prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among blood donors was 9.7%, with a 95% CI of 7.1-12.3. In multivariable logistic regression, those with a monthly income of less than 200 USD (AOR = 5.20, 95% CI = 1.61-16.79), those with an income between 200 and 400 (AOR = 3.59, 95% CI = 1.38-9.34), Jobless blood donors (AOR = 3.78, 95% CI = 1.17-12.20), those in business occupations (AOR = 3.35, 95% CI = 1.24-9.08), those with a history of STDs (AOR = 4.83, 95% CI = 2.03-11.50), those without a history of HB vaccine (AOR = 13.81, 95% CI = 2.46-77.41), those with a history of tooth extraction (AOR = 6.90, 95% CI = 2.66-17.88), and those who shared sharp equipment (AOR = 2.90, 95% CI = 1.07-7.82) were more likely to become infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) compared to their counterparts.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights a high prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Implementation efforts against HBV infection should specifically focus on low-income individuals, the jobless, and donors with a history of STD to mitigate the burden of HBV infection and promote safer blood donation. In addition, discouraging the sharing of sharp equipment, improving infection control practices during tooth extraction procedures, and enhancing HB vaccination uptake, particularly among individuals lacking a history of HB vaccine, is highly recommended.

Factors Associated with Condom Knowledge, Attitude, and Use among Black Heterosexual Men in Ontario, Canada

African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) men living in Canada share a heightened risk of HIV infection and the associated risk factors such as suboptimal use of family planning services such as condom use. In this study, we assessed the factors associated with knowledge, attitude, and condom use among ACB men in Ontario. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study that surveyed heterosexual ACB men regardless of their residency status living in Ontario (n = 430). This is a part of a larger mixed methods study informed by critical race theory, intersectionality, and community-based participatory research (CBPR). Outcome variables were knowledge of condom use, attitude towards condom use, and actual use of condom during the last 12 months. Results. Of 430 participants, 77.70% has good knowledge of condom use as a protection against HIV transmission, 31.77% had positive attitude towards condom use, and 62.43% reported using condom regularly with casual partners during the last 12 months. Men who were currently married had more positive attitude towards condom use compared with their unmarried counterparts (odds ratio = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.20, 1.78). Canadian residents were found to have higher odds of having correct knowledge of condom (odds ratio = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.55), and positive attitude towards condom use (odds ratio = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.09, 1.92). Men who visited sexual health clinics showed a positive association with having correct knowledge of condom (odds ratio = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.30, 2.44) and reported experiences of difficulty in accessing sexual health. This showed a negative association towards condom use (odds ratio = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.21, 0.97]. Conclusion. A considerable percentage of heterosexual ACB men did not have correct knowledge regarding the protective effect of condom use against HIV and positive attitude towards the use of condom. Several sociodemographic and healthcare-related factors were significantly associated with knowledge, attitude, and use of condom.