Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevalence Research Articles

Statistical analysis on the incidence and predictors of death among second-line ART patients in public hospitals of North Wollo and Waghemira Zones, Ethiopia, 2021

Acquired immune deficiency virus, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, is a significant global health concern. Sub-Saharan Africa particularly Ethiopia faces a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus. In low-income settings like Ethiopia, early mortality rates are elevated due to severe opportunistic infections and advanced disease at Anti-retroviral treatment initiation. Despite available treatments, delayed treatment initiation among Human Immunodeficiency Virus -infected individuals in Africa, including Ethiopia, leads to disease progression and increased mortality risk. This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to the death of HIV patients under treatment at second line regimen in public hospitals of North Wollo and Waghemira Zones. A retrospective cohort study with 474 patients was conducted in selected hospitals of North Wollo and Waghemira Zones. A parametric Weibull regression model was employed, and the adjusted hazard ratio served as the measure of association. Variables significantly affected the outcome of the study was determined at a p-value < 0.05, along with a 95% confidence interval for the variables. The patients were within the average age of 38.6(standard deviation ± 12.5) years and majority (45.57%) had no formal education. The overall death incidence rate among second-line anti-retroviral treatment patients was 1.98 per 100-person years [95% CI 1.4—2.9%]. Poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment, male gender, and being underweight significantly increased the hazard of death. Conversely, increased anti-retroviral treatment duration had a significant and negative impact, reducing the hazard of death among patients. The study reveals a high incidence of death among second line anti-retroviral treatment users. Independent predictors include poor adherence, male gender, and underweight status, all significantly increasing the risk of death. On the positive side, the hazard of death decreases with longer anti-retroviral treatment duration. A critical concern and counseling should be given for better ART adherence, to change their nutritional status and for males.

Study on HIV Status Disclosure and Treatment Adherence Amongst Support Group Members in Mushin Local Government Area (LGA), Lagos State

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a significant global health concern, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the burden of the epidemic is highest. Lagos State, in Southwest Nigeria, faces a significant challenge with HIV prevalence, particularly in the Mushin Local Government Area (LGA). This study investigates the relationship between HIV status disclosure and adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) medication among members of the God is Good Support Group in Mushin LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria. The study used a qualitative framework design and conducted semi-structured interviews with twenty members of the support group who were purposely selected due to the specific nature of the target population. Collected data was manually transcribed, while thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. The results showed that the majority of participants in the support group had disclosed their HIV status to their partners, and those who hadn&amp;apos;t disclosed often confided in children or close relatives. Participants reported receiving strong support from their confidantes after disclosure. Participants believed that effective treatment adherence is crucial for achieving viral suppression, and a significant majority believed that disclosing their HIV status helped them achieve viral suppression. Most participants had positive experiences disclosing their status to partners, with nearly all reporting supportive partners. Only a small minority reported negative impacts on their sexual life, suggesting that disclosure may not necessarily harm relationships. Based on these findings, the study concludes that there is a high level of disclosure among support group members, and participants with good adherence were more likely to have disclosed their status. Disclosure was associated with achieving viral suppression, potentially due to the support received. The study suggests that strengthening support groups through funding from local, state, and international organizations could be beneficial in encouraging disclosure and improving health outcomes for individuals living with HIV.

Prevalence of HBV Co-infections with HCV and HIV among Blood Donors in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Blood is a life-saving resource. Despite the significance of blood transfusion in saving a millions life in emergencies and medical treatment, the safety of blood transfusion faced challenges of transmitting life threatening transfusion transmissible infectious agents such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The study was carried out to determine the sero-prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV and co-infections among blood donors in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. A total of five hundred (500) prospective blood donors age ranged from 18 to 60 years attending Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital between May to November, 2019 were recruited for the study. Prospective study was based on questionnaires administered to generate socio-demographics and a 5ml venous blood samples were obtained from each blood donors and the plasma was used for determination of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV using immunoassay rapid test kit (RTK) Diaspot, Belgium and HIV-1 and HIV-2 Determine Alere Medical ,Japan and further tested with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Biorad Monolisa, France). The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV were 4.8%, 1.2% and 1.8% respectively, while co-infections with HBV/ HIV and HBV/HCV were 0.2% and 0.2% respectively and there was no case of triple infections among the blood donors. The incidence rate was high in HBV followed by HIV and HCV. The use of RTK and ELISA for screening of blood donor for HBsAg, anti HCV and HIV in terms of their sensitively and specificity showed that ELISA is more sensitive than RTK while RTK is more specific than ELISA. From the retrospective study age and gender distribution was not statistically significant (P &gt; 0.05). A significance difference was observed between married blood donors and HIV infection (P &lt; 0.05) and also blood donors with history of blood transfusion showed statistical significant to HBV and HCV (P &lt; 0.05). The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infections among blood donors were found to be statistically associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, surgical operation, multiple sex partners and tattooing (P &lt; 0.05). This study shows that the prevalence of HBV infection in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State ,Nigeria was higher than HCV and HIV, hence there is need to increase public awareness of the socio-cultural practices that contribute to the transmission of infection.

Seroprevalence and co-infection of HBV, HCV, and HIV among patients visiting selected hospitals in Anyigba, Kogi State

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remain a public health challenge globally. This study determined the prevalence and coinfection of HBV, HCV, and HIV among patients visiting Maria Goretti Hospital, Grimard Catholic Hospital, and Good News Hospital Anyigba, Kogi State. In a cross-sectional study, sera samples collected from 400 consenting patients were screened for HBV, HCV, and HIV using commercial immunodiagnostic test kits. Of the 400 subjects, 12 (3.0%), 4 (1.0%), and 16 (4.0%) were infected with HBV, HCV, and HIV, respectively. One participant was co-infected with HCV and HIV, while none was simultaneously infected with HBV and HIV. Participants aged 11–20 years had higher hepatitis B-surface antigenemia, while ages 21–30 years and 31–40 years had higher prevalence of HCV and HIV, respectively. Contrary to HBV and HCV positivity, HIV seropositivity was significantly predicted by the ages of exposure (p = 0.002). Males and females were equally infected with HBV (3.0% each), while more males than females were infected with HCV (1.5%) and HIV (4.6%). However, the difference between the occurrence of viral infections and patients’ sex was not significant (p > 0.05). The single participants were more predisposed to HBV while the married subjects had more HCV and HIV mono-infection. However, neither the occurrence of HBV nor HCV or HIV was significantly predicted by the marital status of the individuals (p > 0.05). Subjects with no formal education had a higher positivity rate of HCV and HIV compared to other levels of education, while the tertiary level of education had higher exposure to HBsAg. Occupationally, students were more predisposed to HBV and HCV, while the unemployed participants were more predisposed to HIV. However, neither education nor the occupation of participants was significantly related to any of the viral infections (p > 0.05). Lack of knowledge of disease prevention significantly influenced the occurrence of HBV (p = 0.02), HCV (p = 0.04), and HIV (p = 0.04). Conclusively, the status of HBV, HCV, and HIV infection is low compared with findings of previous epidemiological studies in the area. However, the continuous circulation of the three viral infections and the high disease occurrence in the poorly informed participants suggest the need for increased public health education about infection control and prevention strategies in the area.

Spatial distribution and determinants of HIV high burden in the Southern African sub-region.

Spatial analysis at different levels can help understand spatial variation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, disease drivers, and targeted interventions. Combining spatial analysis and the evaluation of the determinants of the HIV burden in Southern African countries is essential for a better understanding of the disease dynamics in high-burden settings. The study countries were selected based on the availability of demographic and health surveys (DHS) and corresponding geographic coordinates. We used multivariable regression to evaluate the determinants of HIV burden and assessed the presence and nature of HIV spatial autocorrelation in six Southern African countries. The overall prevalence of HIV for each country varied between 11.3% in Zambia and 22.4% in South Africa. The HIV prevalence rate was higher among female respondents in all six countries. There were reductions in prevalence estimates in most countries yearly from 2011 to 2020. The hotspot cluster findings show that the major cities in each country are the key sites of high HIV burden. Compared with female respondents, the odds of being HIV positive were lesser among the male respondents. The probability of HIV infection was higher among those who had sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the last 12 months, divorced and widowed individuals, and women aged 25 years and older. Our research findings show that analysis of survey data could provide reasonable estimates of the wide-ranging spatial structure of the HIV epidemic in Southern African countries. Key determinants such as individuals who are divorced, middle-aged women, and people who recently treated STIs, should be the focus of HIV prevention and control interventions. The spatial distribution of high-burden areas for HIV in the selected countries was more pronounced in the major cities. Interventions should also be focused on locations identified as hotspot clusters.

Esengo ya Bosembo ("Joy of Equity"): Development of an Advocacy Video to Reduce Stigma and to Promote Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women Sex Professionals in Pointe-Noire, Congo Republic.

Sex workers experience elevated risks of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) from intimate partners, clients, and community members that harms health and human rights. While SGBV contributes to poorer sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes among sex workers, including elevated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vulnerabilities, stigma targeting sex workers reduces SRH service access and uptake. The Congo Republic is an exemplar context to address stigma toward sex workers. Sex workers' HIV prevalence (8.1%) in Congo Republic is double the national prevalence, yet research indicates that nearly one-fifth (17.2%) of sex workers in Congo Republic avoid health care because of stigma and discrimination. This Resources, Frameworks, & Perspectives article describes the process of developing Esengo ya Bosembo ("Joy of Equity"), a culturally tailored advocacy video that aims to reduce health care and community stigma toward women sex professionals (e.g., sex workers) in Pointe-Noire, Congo Republic. This knowledge translation product stems from a participatory mapping intervention with sex professionals in Pointe-Noire that revealed the need for sensitization tools and activities to reduce sex work stigma among health care providers and community members. The video incorporates three overarching key messages: (1) sex professionals are human beings with equal rights to dignity, protection, and health services; (2) elevated risks of SGBV and stigma targeting sex workers reduce SRH service access and uptake; and (3) participatory mapping is a potential way to empower sex professionals to share their experiences and recommendations for change. This article details how health promotion practitioners and sex professionals may use the video to advocate for change.

Prevalence of Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Co-Infection among People Living with HIV in Dutse Metropolis, Jigawa Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a known major global public health problem. HBV–HIV co-infection is not uncommon due to shared risk of transmission particularly in areas of endemic HBV infection. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of co-Infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among people living with HIV in Dutse metropolis, Jigawa Nigeria. A hospital-based cross-sectional study included 100 confirmed People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) attending General Hospital Duste, Jigawa. Demographic information, risk factors, and serological analyses for HBV were obtained using a structured questionnaire and the vein puncture technique. Statistical analysis utilized SPSS version 25, employing the Chi-square test for categorical variables. The study revealed a statistically significant association between age groups and HIV/HBV co-infection (p = 0.006), with the highest prevalence in the 29-39 age range. Primary education (p = 0.009) also exhibited significant associations. Employed individuals (8.51%) exhibited a higher HIV/HBV co-infection rate than the unemployed (7.01%), with a non-significant association (p = 0.54). Males showed a marginal elevation in co-infection rates (8%) compared to females (7.55%), but the gender difference was not statistically significant. Divorced individuals had a significantly higher prevalence (22.22%) than married (6.67%) and single (6.25%) individuals. Risky behaviors and residence did not show significant associations with co-infection. The overall prevalence of HBV/HIV co-infection in this study was 8%. Our study showed a high prevalence of HBV/HIV co-infection among people living with HIV/AIDS attending the care and treatment center in Dutse General Hospital Jigawa. These findings highlighted the complex interplay of behavioral and demographic factors that contribute to the prevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection among people living with HIV/AIDS.

The relationship between neighborhood social capital and health from a biopsychosocial perspective: A systematic review.

The Social Determinants of Health (SDH) influence the health of people throughout their lives, and can be positive, protective or risk factors for the population and, in turn, biological, psychological, or social. The social environment conditions the health status of the neighborhood, population, and social group, which can be a health asset due to its strong psychosocial and socio-cultural influence. Social capital is a community asset of the healthy neighborhood that must be known in order to promote community health. The objective is to determine the relationship between social capital and neighborhood biopsychosocial health. A systematic review was conducted based on PRISMA: PubMed, Wos, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The search was conducted from January to March 2023. Three authors independently extracted data using a structured form. Out of 527 records, 17 results passed the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The positive and statistically significant relationship between neighborhood social capital (NSC) and the physical and mental health of neighbors is confirmed, that is, the higher the NSC, the more exercise, better oral health in children and physical health in pregnant women, lower tobacco consumption and lower prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus. At the psychological level, greater NSC leads to better mental health, mental well-being, life satisfaction, quality of life, self-perceived health, higher cognitive function, and less depression. In conclusion, social capital is an important SDH and health asset that influences neighborhood biopsychosocial health and should be known and researched for health promotion in community settings. More evidence is needed to support the results obtained.

Current status of liver transplantation for human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in mainland China

According to the report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection exceeded 1.2 million individuals by the year 2022, with an annual increase of about 80000 cases. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among individuals co-infected with HIV reached 13.7%, almost twice the rate of the general population in China. In addition to the well-documented susceptibility to opportunistic infections and new malignancies, HIV infected patients frequently experience liver-related organ damage, with the liver and kidneys being the most commonly affected. This often leads to the development of end-stage liver and kidney diseases. Therefore, organ transplantation has emerged as an important part of active treatment for HIV infected patients. However, the curative effect is not satisfactory. HIV infection has been considered a contraindication for organ transplantation. Until the emergence of highly active anti-retroviral therapy in 1996, the once intractable replication of retrovirus was effectively inhibited. With prolonged survival, the failure of important organs has become the main cause of death among HIV patients. Therefore, transplant centers worldwide have resumed exploration of organ transplantation for HIV-infected individuals and reached a positive conclusion. This study provides an overview of the current landscape of HIV-positive patients receiving liver transplantation (LT) in mainland China. To date, our transplant center has conducted LT for eight end-stage liver disease patients co-infected with HIV, and all but one, who died two months postoperatively due to sepsis and progressive multi-organ failure, have survived. Comparative analysis with hepatitis B virus-infected patients during the same period revealed no statistically significant differences in acute rejection reactions, cytomegalovirus infection, bacteremia, pulmonary infections, acute kidney injury, new-onset cancers, or vascular and biliary complications.

A Descriptive Analysis of Nasal Polyposis in HIV Positive Versus HIV Negative Patients

AbstractNasal polyposis (NP) represents a benign proliferation of soft tissue tumors within the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, characterized by chronic inflammation of the sinonasal mucosa. This phenomenon, attributed to various environmental and physiological factors, presents clinically as semi-transparent masses with variable morphology, often obstructing nasal passages and causing respiratory compromise, olfactory dysfunction, and recurrent infections. Predominantly associated with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), NP poses significant challenges in diagnosis and management, particularly in the context of comorbid conditions such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV infection, known for its debilitating effects on the immune system, is theorized to exacerbate NP development and manifestation through mechanisms involving CD4 cell depletion and dysregulation of immune responses. Despite extensive research, elucidating potential pathways linking HIV infection to NP, comprehensive understanding remains elusive. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by conducting a retrospective chart review of patients presenting with NP at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital between January 2016 and December 2020. The primary objective is to investigate the influence of HIV status on the clinical, radiological, and histological features of NP. Data collection, encompassing patient demographics, HIV status, clinical presentations, radiological findings, and histopathological characteristics, will be conducted between March 2021 and August 2022. Preliminary analysis of collected data reveals a cohort of 41 patients meeting inclusion criteria, with notable exclusions based on undisclosed HIV status and incomplete documentation. Initial findings suggest a nuanced interplay between genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and HIV status in NP pathogenesis, underscoring the need for further research to validate these observations. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of elucidating the complex relationship between HIV infection and NP to optimize diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, particularly in regions with a high HIV prevalence such as South Africa. By comprehensively assessing the clinical, radiological, and histological features of NP in HIV-positive and HIV-negative populations, this research endeavours to enhance our understanding of NP pathophysiology and improve patient outcomes.

Do medical spending and income reduce the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis? A study on Sub-Saharan Africa

Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) suffer from economic hardship and high unemployment rates; furthermore, this region has higher rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB). This study examined the relationships between HIV and TB, income and total medical spending and its components private, and public healthcare expenditure, for 41 SSA countries. Random and fixed-effects models were utilized in this study to explore relationships by studying time series and cross-sectional panel data obtained from the World Bank. Results demonstrated that there is a positive relationship between HIV and unemployment and a negative relationship with income and medical spending. We also observed that, when private and public medical expenditures are compared, private medical expenditures alleviate the HIV epidemic. Considering the association with TB, income, total, and its components private and public medical expenditures are negatively related. Since prevention of such life-threatening diseases like HIV and TB become vital to find remedy for, there is a need for more government initiatives including, job creation, increased productivity and increased income levels can be seen as preconditions, in fighting and controlling HIV and TB.

Antibodies against high-risk human papillomavirus proteins as markers for noncervical HPV-related cancers in a Black South African population, according to HIV status.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) proteins may elicit antibody responses in the process toward HPV-related malignancy. However, HPV seroepidemiology in noncervical HPV-related cancers remains poorly understood, particularly in populations with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Using a glutathione S-transferase-based multiplex serology assay, antibodies against E6, E7 and L1 proteins of HPV16 and HPV18 were measured in sera of 535 cases of noncervical HPV-related cancers (anal (n = 104), vulval (n = 211), vaginal (n = 49), penile (n = 37) and oropharyngeal (n = 134)) and 6651 non-infection-related cancer controls, from the Johannesburg Cancer Study that recruited Black South African with newly diagnosed cancer between 1995 and 2016. Logistic and Poisson regression models were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in cases versus controls. HPV16 E6 was more strongly associated with noncervical HPV-related cancers than HPV16 L1 or E7, or HPV18 proteins: anal (females (HPV16 E6 aOR = 11.50;95%CI:6.0-22.2), males (aOR = 10.12;95%CI:4.9-20.8), vulval (aOR = 11.69;95%CI:7.9-17.2), vaginal (aOR = 10.26;95%CI:5.0-21), penile (aOR = 18.95;95%CI:8.9-40), and oropharyngeal (females (aOR = 8.95;95%CI:2.9-27.5), males (aOR = 3.49;95%CI:1.8-7.0)) cancers. HPV16-E6 seropositivity ranged from 24.0% to 35.1% in anal, vulval, vaginal and penile cancer but was significantly lower (11.2%) in oropharyngeal cancer. After adjustment for HIV, prevalence of which increased from 22.2% in 1995-2005 to 54.1% in 2010-2016, HPV16 E6 seropositivity increased by period of diagnosis (aPR for 2010-2016 vs. 1995-2006 = 1.84;95%CI:1.1-3.0). Assuming HPV16 E6 seroprevalence reflects HPV attributable fraction, the proportion of certain noncervical-HPV-related cancers caused by HPV is increasing over time in South Africa. This is expected to be driven by the increasing influence of HIV.

The prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection among voluntary blood donors in mainland China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection through transfusion has been an imperative challenge for blood safety. Despite the implementation of screening strategies, there was still the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV. Considering that the prevalence of HIV infection in blood donors is significant for evaluating blood safety and potential risks to the population, meta-analysis was applied to investigate the HIV prevalence among voluntary blood donors during the past 27 years to characterize the epidemiology and related risk factors of HIV in blood donors. The literature concerning the HIV screening reactive rate and prevalence in Chinese voluntary blood donors was collected through the systematic searching of four electronic databases. After integrating data, following the Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, data manipulation and statistical analyses were conducted by Stata 12.0. The results indicated that overall HIV prevalence was 0.0178% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0169%-0.0187%) with a remarkable rise, which varied from 2000 (0.0034%) to 2015 (0.027%). The HIV window period infection rate was 0.0475‱ (95%CI, 0.0304‱-0.0646‱). Importantly, subgroup analysis revealed the heterogeneity in gender, occupations, education and donation frequency. With the effective control of HIV transmission through blood, HIV prevalence declined in China to some extent in recent years, and the characteristics of HIV epidemic in some provinces have drastically changed. However, remaining relatively high HIV prevalence and overall increased trend of HIV prevalence since the 21th century demonstrates the potential residual risk of blood transfusion, and the whole society is supposed to pay close attention to HIV infection.

Embracing Inclusivity in Hospice Care: A Case Study in Supporting HIV Patients.

Despite the growing prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodefiency syndrome (AIDS) in the Philippines and the psychosocial challenges it engenders, there remains a dearth of research on the intersection of HIV and hospice care. Stigma and discrimination further compound the challenges of providing inclusive hospice care to HIV patients in the country. Drawing upon the results of a recently published article centered on a Veteran assigned male at birth who expressed a desire for gender reassignment while receiving end-of-life care, this paper highlights the importance of sensitivity, understanding, and affirmation in hospice settings for HIV patients in the Philippines.

Effectiveness of human immunodeficiency virus prevention strategies by mapping the geographic dispersion pattern of human immunodeficiency virus prevalence in Nanning, China

BackgroundThe Guangxi government initiated two rounds of the Guangxi AIDS Conquering Project (GACP) in 2010 (Phase I) and 2015 (Phase II) to control human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemics. However, the effectiveness of GACP in HIV prevention and treatment has rarely been reported. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the GACP implemented in Guangxi, China and provide data for strategy and praxis improvements to achieve Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 95-95 targets.MethodsWe used spatial approaches to trace the spatiotemporal distribution properties, epidemic trends, and correlation between macroscopic factors and HIV incidence using data from the Chinese HIV/AIDS case reporting system to explore the effects of the GACP.ResultsDuring the GACP era, the HIV epidemic stabilized in urban centers, showing a downward trend in the Hengzhou and Binyang Counties in the eastern region, whereas it continued to increase in rural areas of the northwest region, such as the Long’an, Mashan, Shanglin, and Wuming Districts. The linear directional mean (LDM) of HIV infection reported cases displayed a southeast–northwest direction, with an LDM value of 12.52°. Compared with that in Phase I, Hengzhou withdrew from the high-high clustering area, and the west–north suburban counties pulled out the low-low clustering area during Phase II. Significant HIV clusters were identified in the eastern region during Phase I, whereas these clusters emerged in the northwestern areas during Phase II. Regarding HIV, socioeconomic status, population mobility, and medical care levels were the key social drivers of heterogeneous spatial distribution.ConclusionsThe GACP assisted in effectively managing the HIV epidemic in urban and eastern areas of Nanning City. However, prevention and control efforts in rural regions, particularly those located in the northwest, may not have yielded comparable outcomes. To address this disparity, allocating additional resources and implementing tailored intervention measures for these rural areas are imperative.

Diagnostic tests of HIV infection and AIDS

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection presents a major global health challenge. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 39.0 million people have HIV, as of 2022, with 1.3 million new infections annually. In Korea, the first HIV cases were reported in 1985, and the number of cases has increased continuously since 1988. In 2022, 1,066 cases were newly diagnosed, increasing the total number of cases to approximately 15,880.Current Concepts: Diagnostics play a crucial role in the management of HIV, for early diagnosis and initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Approval of the first HIV antibody test in 1985 by the US Food and Drug Administration marked a notable advance in the ability to diagnose HIV infection. The screening test for HIV infection typically consists of a two-step approach, in which a fourth-generation combination HIV-1/2 immunoassay is followed by a confirmatory Western blot. Despite its high accuracy for chronic infections, the window period and the early-stage of HIV infections are problematic, and populations with low HIV prevalence show a low positive predictive value. A false positive result can occur from blood transfusions, vaccinations, and autoantibodies. Novel diagnostic tools, such as nucleic acid testing for viral RNA/DNA and antigen testing for p24 antigen have reduced the window period, allowing for earlier detection and differentiation between HIV-1 and HIV-2. Pointof-care tests are beneficial in resource-limited settings although their lower sensitivity and specificity require additional confirmatory follow-up testing.Discussion and Conclusion: In this review, we provide a historical perspective on the evolution of HIV diagnostics (serological and molecular) and describe the roles of conventional and point-of-care testing within the laboratory diagnostic network.

Prevalence and Determinants of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis Co-Infection at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital

Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) was one of the top 10 causes of death, and the leading cause from a single infectious agent above HIV/AIDS. Millions of people continue to fall sick with the disease each year. Not less than one-third of people living with HIV are also infected with TB. At autopsy, studies have found that 30 – 50% of patients have evidence of TB. By the year 2013, about a quarter of all TB deaths occurred in HIV-positive persons and TB was the leading cause of death in those that had HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, about 41% of HIV patients have TB. TB incidence still being high, especially among the HIV infected and the prevalence of TB/HIV co-infection was largely unknown, particularly in developing countries, including Uganda all but fuels the need for this study. To assess the prevalence and determinants of TB-HIV co-infection among HIV-positive patients attended at KIUTH. A review of the data study that included 500 patient records was included for this study. 37 out of 500 patient records recorded TB-HIV coinfection. This made a prevalence of 7.4%. Sex, marital status, employment status, household income, residence and history of alcohol or smoking were found significant whereas age (p-value: 0.5621) and education (pvalue: 0.08180) were found to be insignificant. The prevalence of HIV-TB coinfection was high with sex, patients, marital status, employment status, household income, residence and history of alcohol or smoking found to be significant. In contrast, age and education were found to be insignificant determinants. TB-HIV coinfection was found to have a poorer patient outcome with increased mortality among those who were TB-HIV co-infected. Awareness-creation on the adverse effects of TB-HIV coinfection needs to be up-scaled. Keywords: Tuberculosis, HIV-positive, TB-HIV co-infection, Marital status, sub-Saharan Africa

Association between in-country migration and HIV infection among transgender women from northeastern Brazil: a respondent-driven sampling survey

BackgroundMigration is common among transgender women (TGW), often driven by the desire to escape stigma, find acceptance, establish new connections, access body modifications, or enter new avenues of sex work. Given the heightened mobility of TGW, they are mostly vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to migration. This study aimed to evaluate the association between in-country migration and HIV infection among TGW in Northeast Brazil.MethodsThe DIVAS was a cross-sectional, multicity study investigating risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STI) among TGW in 2016–2017. A total of 864 TGW were recruited through respondent-driven sampling from three capital cities in Northeast Brazil. Logistic regression estimating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to assess the relationship between in-country migration and HIV infection.ResultsThe prevalence of HIV among TGW was 24.5%, 21.4% among those aged 18–34 and 36.1% among those ≥ 35 years old. In-country migration increased the odds of HIV infection among TGW aged 18–34 years (OR = 1.84; 95%CI:1.04–3.27) and even higher among those aged ≥ 35y old (OR = 3.08; 95%CI:1.18–8.04).ConclusionsThese data reinforce the pressing need for public health policies that provide comprehensive access and strategies for demand creation for HIV/AIDS prevention and care for TGW who are already highly vulnerable to infection.

HIV-related knowledge and risk behaviors among transgender individuals in Dhaka, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among transgender individuals in Bangladesh stands at 1%, with a slightly lower rate of 0.9% observed specifically in Dhaka city. Given their status as a minority group, the limited understanding of HIV among transgender individuals poses a significant public health concern. Consequently, the study aims to investigate the HIV-related knowledge and risk behaviors prevalent among transgender individuals in Dhaka city. This cross-sectional study included 135 transgender individuals sourced from a drop-in-center (DIC) and three selected Hijra Pollis in Dhaka. Data collection employed a semi-structured questionnaire featuring a Likert scale designed to collect data on HIV-related knowledge. The majority of participants identified as professional sex workers, with 54.10% reporting irregular sexual clients, and 48.90% involved in sex work for more than 10 years. Despite more than half (57%) exhibiting robust HIV-related knowledge, only one-third (37.30%) reported sporadic use of barrier methods, and slightly more than half (58%) demonstrated awareness of HIV symptoms. A notable discrepancy in HIV-related knowledge was discerned between transgender individuals from the DIC and their counterparts from the Hijra Pollis (t [95% confidence interval] = 0.168 [0.1001 &amp;ndash; 0.236], p &lt; 0.001). In conclusion, despite the provision of healthcare services at the DIC, there persists a pressing need to address current risk behaviors and enhance sex education related to HIV awareness to mitigate associated hazards.

Tracking Cryptococcal Meningitis to Monitor Human Immunodeficiency Virus Program Success During the Treat All Era: An Analysis of National Data in Botswana

Abstract Background Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) causes substantial mortality in African countries with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), despite advances in disease management and increasing antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage. Reliable diagnosis of CM is cheap and more accessible than other indicators of advanced HIV disease burden such as CD4 testing or investigation for disseminated tuberculosis; therefore, monitoring CM incidence has the potential to serve as a valuable metric of HIV programmatic success. Methods Botswana national meningitis surveillance data from 2015 to 2022 were obtained from electronic health records. All electronic laboratory records from cerebrospinal fluid samples analyzed within government healthcare facilities in Botswana were extracted from a central online repository. Adjustments for missing data were made through triangulation with prospective cohort study datasets. CM case frequency was enumerated using a case definition and incidence calculated using national census data. Results A total of 1744 episodes of CM were identified; incidence declined from 15.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.4–16.7) cases/100 000 person-years in 2015 to 7.4 (95% CI, 6.4–8.6) cases/100 000 person-years in 2022. However, the rate of decline slowed following the introduction of universal treatment in 2016. The highest incidence was observed in men and individuals aged 40–44 years. The proportion of cases diagnosed through cryptococcal antigen testing increased from 35.5% to 86.3%. Conclusions CM incidence has decreased in Botswana following expansion of ART coverage but persists at a stubbornly high incidence. Most cases are now diagnosed through the cheap and easy-to-use cryptococcal antigen test, highlighting the potential of using CM as key metric of program success in the Treat All era.