Viral suppression, the key goal of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for improving health and preventing transmission, remains understudied among key populations (KPs) in Ethiopia. This study assessed viral suppression and associated factors among KPs on ART in Oromia, Ethiopia. A retrospective study was conducted among KPs in the study area using patient charts (n = 360). Twelve-month post-ART viral load results were extracted. Data were entered into Epi Data 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS. Logistic regression identified associations, with significance set at p-value ≤ 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for adjusted odds ratios (AORs). The study included 360 participants, including female sex workers (FSWs) 347 (96.4%) and 13 (3.6%) prisoners. Most participants, 164 (45.6%) were aged 25-34, and 320 (88.9%) achieved viral suppression. Being in WHO clinical stage I (AOR = 3.34; 95% CI: 1.35-8.24), being on ART for < 3 years (AOR = 9.25; 95% CI: 3.71-23.03), and having good adherence (AOR = 13.62; 95% CI: 5.85-31.74) were significant determinants. The rate of viral suppression among KPs on ART in Western Oromia, Ethiopia was below the UNAIDS 95% target. Early WHO clinical stage I, shorter ART duration, and good adherence were significant determinants of suppression.

Candidemia is an underrecognised complication among patients with advanced HIV disease (AHD), particularly in low‑resource settings. We conducted a retrospective study at an MSF-supported hospital in Kinshasa (2022-2025) to describe the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of candidemia. Among 3974 AHD admissions, 46 candidemia cases (1.2%) were identified, more than 80% of which were healthcare‑associated. Mortality was high (76.1%) and many deaths occurred before microbiological confirmation. Classical risk factors, such as indwelling catheters and parenteral nutrition, were uncommon, suggesting alternative pathogenic mechanisms. Findings highlight the need for improved diagnostics and access to antifungal susceptibility testing.

Retention in HIV care is a key component of the continuum of care and is essential for achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. In Manaus, Northern Brazil, despite advances in HIV treatment and prevention, loss to follow-up among PLHIV remains a significant barrier to viral suppression and epidemic control. The present research explored health care providers' perspectives on strategies to improve retention in care among people living with HIV (PLHIV) at referral health facilities in Manaus. A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2023 and October 2025 in six public health facilities in Manaus. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were performed with 56 health care providers, including physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists, and HIV/AIDS program state managers. Data were analyzed using thematic framework analysis with MAXQDA software. Six major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) monitoring and follow-up of PLHIV, (2) challenges related to loss to follow-up, (3) impact of loss to follow-up on UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals, (4) barriers to retention, (5) strategies to optimize retention, and (6) state-level initiatives to improve retention. Providers identified poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, stigma, discrimination, transportation barriers, substance use, and health system constraints such as workforce shortages, long waiting times, and lack of privacy as key drivers of disengagement. Proposed strategies included strengthening multidisciplinary teams, promoting continuous professional training, implementing patient-centered and stigma-free care, enhancing active patient tracing, expanding digital communication tools, decentralizing services, and ensuring adequate financial and human resources. Retention in HIV care in Manaus is shaped by complex social and systemic factors. Integrated, multisectoral strategies addressing socioeconomic vulnerabilities and service-level barriers are essential to improve long-term engagement in care and advance progress toward the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.

We assessed whether participants in the EZI-PrEP study, a non-inferiority trial evaluating online and six-monthly monitoring of oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), represent the broader population of PrEP users in the Netherlands. We conducted a cross-sectional study using routinely collected data from September 2021 to August 2022 at four centres for sexual health (CSHs) in the Netherlands. Socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, and prevalence of bacterial STIs were compared between EZI-PrEP participants at baseline and other PrEP users during their first PrEP monitoring visit during the same period. The analysis included 469 EZI-PrEP participants and 5161 other PrEP users, of whom 99% and 96% were men who have sex with men (MSM), respectively. EZI-PrEP participants were less often transgender or gender-divers persons (TGDP) (1% vs. 4%, p < 0.001), older (median age = 36 vs. 34 years, p = 0.004), more often born in the Netherlands (68% vs. 58%, p < 0.001), and more often completed a university/college degree (81% vs. 76%, p = 0.01). They also reported more group sex (38% vs. 33%, p = 0.023) and condomless anal sex (95% vs. 92%, p = 0.004), but less often sex work (1% vs. 6%, p < 0.001). Prevalence of bacterial STIs were no different between groups (19% vs. 18%, p = 0.77). The comparable STI prevalence suggests no difference in risk for HIV acquisition among EZI-PrEP participants and other PrEP users, making study outcomes applicable to a broader population of PrEP users. However, under-representation of TGDPs, sex workers, individuals not born in the Netherlands, and individuals without university or college degree may limit generalizability.

The Gambia has experienced major HIV epidemic shifts over three decades. As a low-prevalence country, understanding epidemic trends remains crucial for health planning and resource allocation. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of 35 years of HIV prevalence, incidence, and mortality trends in The Gambia from 1990 to 2024. We conducted epidemiological analysis using UNAIDS 2025 HIV estimates from 1990 to 2024. Temporal trends were examined across four phases. Log-linear regression estimated annual percent changes for people living with HIV (PLHIV), new infections, and AIDS deaths. Epidemic control was assessed using mortality-to-incidence and incidence-to-prevalence ratios. PLHIV increased 24-fold from 1,035 (95% CI 784-1,342) in 1990 to 25,247 (95% CI 20,945-30,216) in 2024. Adult prevalence rose from 0·18% to 1·29%. The early phase showed explosive growth (annual percent change + 30·46% for PLHIV), followed by declining incidence concurrent with treatment scale-up (- 4·40% annually 2010-2019; -7·37% annually 2020-2024). New infections peaked at 2,439 (2009), declining to 1,124 (2024). The mortality-to-incidence ratio exceeded 1·0 in 2023. Progressive feminization emerged: female-to-male prevalence ratio increased from 1·06 to 1·57 (β = 0·0133/year, p < 0·0001), with women comprising 61·3% of PLHIV. Treatment cascade performance fell substantially below 95-95-95 targets (63·7% diagnosed, 44·3% on ART, 34·9% virally suppressed), with pronounced gender gaps (men: 52·7%/27·2%/21·2% vs. women: 72·1%/55·4%/44·4%). Pediatric infections increased 284% (44→169 cases), representing 15·0% of 2024 infections. Despite declining incidence, The Gambia faces critical gaps in treatment cascade, particularly among men, epidemic feminization, and persistent vertical transmission, requiring urgent gender-responsive and pediatric interventions.