This document is the tenth in a series of Tobacco Knowledge Summaries and is prepared with the objective to summarize the current evidence on the association between tobacco use and HIV. This is also intended as an advocacy tool for the integration of screening for tobacco use, assessing willingness... to quit, and offering brief advice, and supporting the initiation of pharmacotherapy as part of standard HIV care practice.
more
Malawi is a small landlocked country in Sub-Saharan Africa with a population expanding rapidly at 3 percent per year.
With most livelihoods dependent on rainfed agriculture, the population is highly vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters, prolonged dry spells and flash floods.
Despite progress in improving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people with HIV in Malawi, the burden of HIV infections and HIV treatment outcomes among key populations is suboptimal. Client-centered differentiated service delivery approaches may facilitate addressing HIV prevention and treatment nee...ds of key populations in Malawi.
Methods
De-identified program data routinely collected as part of the LINKAGES project–Malawi were assembled from October 2017 to September 2019. HIV case finding was compared across different testing modalities for each population. Poisson regression was used to estimate the association between testing modalities and ART initiation.
Results
Of the 18 397 people included in analyses, 10 627 (58%) were female sex workers (FSWs), 2219 (12%) were men who have sex with men (MSM), and 4970 (27%) were clients of FSWs. HIV case finding varied by modality and population, with index testing and enhanced peer outreach demonstrating high yield despite reaching relatively few individuals. FSWs who tested positive through risk network referral testing were more likely to initiate ART within 30 days compared with those who tested positive through clinic-based testing (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.50; 95% CI, 1.23–1.82). For MSM, index testing (aRR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.06–2.00) and testing through a drop-in center (aRR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.19–2.78) were associated with 30-day ART initiation.
Conclusions
These data suggest that differentiated HIV testing and outreach approaches tailored to the needs of different key populations may facilitate improved ART initiation in Malawi. Achieving 0 new infections by 2030 suggests the need to adapt treatment strategies given individual and structural barriers to treatment for key populations with HIV in high-prevalence settings.
more
- A Skills Building Program for Clinicians and Non-Clinicians. Adherence guidelines- slide deck- training course for health providers
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 20, 379 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03064-x
Guidelines on lenacapavir for HIV prevention and testing strategies for long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis. Web Annex E
Guidelines on lenacapavir for HIV prevention and testing strategies for long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis. Web Annex G Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has significantly altered the epidemiology of other infectious diseases, making investigations into its co-infection with malaria particularly relevant in endemic regions. This review examines the epidemiological, incubation and clinical features of the two diseases, high...lighting the diagnostic challenges and strategies for accurate detection. Emerging immunological and genetic evidence indicates that prior exposure to malaria may reduce the severity of outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection through mechanisms involving ACE2 downregulation, TLR signalling, T-cell activation and upregulation of coinhibitory receptors. Additionally, potential control measures are discussed, including vaccine development, the repurposing of antimalarial drugs, the exploration of natural products, innovations in bioinsecticides, and the strengthening of electronic disease surveillance. These insights provide valuable guidance for clinical management and public health policy, while emphasising the need for continued research into the complex interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and malaria.
more
Preventive Medicine Reports Volume 46, October 2024, 102870.
The syndemic of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and early pregnancy remain a key challenge to global public health. Decision-making around sexual and reproductive health (SRH) behaviours is critical to ensuring the uptake of... biomedical technologies. Drawing from behavioural science theories, we propose a novel conceptual framework—the Decision Cascade—to describe the decision-making process that a user will go through as they navigate these decisions.
more
There is widespread recognition of the growing threat of infectious disease epidemics and pandemics spreading across countries or continents—especially following the recent Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics. Vulnerable groups (including children, older adults, ethnic minorities and other at-risk group...s) have disproportionately borne the brunt of significant health, social, and economic effects of these epidemics and pandemics, with varying degrees of support received depending on the context. While many argue that communities should or need to play a critical role in supporting and leading preparedness and response efforts, work still needs to be done to engage them effectively. In many instances, modes of engagement with communities—especially by state authorities–have come too late, often as an afterthought are not adequately thought through and have undermined public trust in and support for, disease prevention and control measures
more
During ARV drug pressure the HIV-1 RT is able to develop resistance to these drugs by generating mutations
The widespread termination of US government contracts and PEPFAR stop work orders have had a devastating impact on access to HIV prevention. To find out more about what happened and understand the ongoing impacts in detail, click on the link
This brief from Audere and AVAC explains how artificial intelligence (AI) can support the HIV field by expanding reach, enhancing prevention, and improving care.
СТАНДАРТ МЕДИЧНОЇ ДОПОМОГИ.
These clinical guidelines, released by the Ukraine Ministry of Health in 2025, include the latest recommendations for HIV services, including oral PrEP and injectable cabotegravir (CAB) for PrEP.
Cervical cancer is a disease of the female reproductive tract caused primarily by oncogenic types of human papillomavirus
(HPV). In 2020, it was the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, with an estimated 604 000 new cases and 342 000 deaths
There is paucity of data on the burden and specific drivers operative in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the African setting and populations. Lack of awareness and inadequate knowledge on the aetio-pathogenesis of the disease together with inadequate capacity for ...COPD care contributes to preventive and management challenges. Thus, the majority of patients with COPD are misdiagnosed, misclassified and mismanaged or undertreated. With the struggling improvement in the quality of healthcare in Africa, studies conducted over the last 10 years indicates the rising trends in both the risk factors and the burden of COPD. The role of new risk factors such as indoor pollution, infections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), in the pathogenesis of COPD in Africa is increasingly being recognized. This literature review attempts to collect and synthesize information that could be useful in improving COPD care and informing the governments to take appropriate actions for prevention, diagnosis and management of COPD in Africa.
more
Int. J. Transl. Med. 2023, 3(2), 187-202; https://doi.org/10.3390/jtm3020014 .
Malaria and HIV are geographically in the tropics and subtropics of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the overlapping effect of both infections, especially among pregnant women, is crucial in managin...g pregnant women during antenatal care visits, and postpartum babies. It was realized that the prevalence of malaria among HIV-positive pregnant women ranges between 31–61%, while for non-HIV infected pregnant women the prevalence still stands between 10 and 36%. Co-infection is between 0.52 and 56.3%.
more
Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol., 12 April 2021 Sec. Parasite and Host
Volume 11 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.656938
Over the past several decades, malaria/HIV-1 co-infection has become a significant global public health problem in co-endemic areas of the world.
Guidelines on lenacapavir for HIV prevention and testing strategies for long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis. Web Annex F
Since the 1960s, the Tanzanian government has been striving to improve access to quality healthcare, including primary care. However, tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern, with an estimated prevalence rate of 528 cases per 100,000 people. However, currently, only 36% of TB c...ases are detected, leaving many undiagnosed within the community. Challenges include low community awareness, long distances to diagnostic centres and delayed health-seeking behaviour.
To address these issues, the Ministry of Health (MOHCDGEC) adopted the ENGAGE TB approach, involving NGOs, civil society organisations (CSOs) and other non-state actors in community-based TB activities. This has increased the number of active organisations from five to approximately twenty.
Building on this success, the Ministry has developed national operational guidelines for community-based TB, TB/HIV and drug-resistant TB interventions, with the aim of improving collaboration between communities and health facilities. These guidelines will be updated regularly, and stakeholders are urged to comply fully with them and support TB control efforts.
more