Correction: Acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing among transgender people in Larkana, Pakistan: Results from a pilot project.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Assessment of Acceptability of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention Among Men Who Sex with Men and Transgender Community in Pakistan.

Objective: To assess the level of acceptability of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transwomen (TW) in Pakistan.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Online study portal from September to November 2021.

Acceptability and feasibility of intra-peer and social media approach for HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men in Karachi: lessons from a pilot study.

Objective: To use a peer-to-peer and social media approach to reach out to men who have sex with men (MSM) and to distribute human immunodeficiency virus self-testing kits among them in an urban setting.

Methods: The cross-sectional, pilot study was conducted by a community-based organisation in Karachi from November 2020 to February 2021, and comprised men aged 18 years or above who have sex with men. The subjects were provided one human immunodeficiency virus self-testing kit (HIVST) per person by trained outreach workers.

Acceptability and feasibility of HIV self-testing among transgender people in Larkana, Pakistan: Results from a pilot project.

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) is an innovative HIV testing approach that effectively reaches those who do not otherwise test, including key populations (KPs). Despite potential benefits, HIVST is not currently implemented in Pakistan. The high risk of HIV among transgender (TGs) persons is among the highest risk group for HIV in Pakistan, yet knowledge of HIV status remains low in this key population group.

Index testing among HIV-positive patients is feasible and successful in identifying additional HIV infections in Pakistan.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of index testing approach to test the parents and siblings of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive children, and identify HIV-positive individuals.

Methods: The study was conducted at Ratodero, Pakistan. Study participants were enrolled from September 2019 to February 2020.

Examining unsafe injection practices associated with auto-disable (AD) syringes: a systematic review.

Auto-disable (AD) syringes are specifically designed to prevent syringe reuse. However, the notion that specific AD syringe designs may be unsafe due to reuse concerns related to the syringe's activation point has surfaced. We conducted a systematic review for evidence on the association between AD syringe design and syringe reuse, adverse events following immunization (AEFI), or blood borne virus (BBV) transmission.

Research on health priorities: a regional agenda and its implementation in Jordan and Pakistan.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is facing extraordinary social and health challenges, aggravated by epidemiologic variations, high morbidity and mortality burden (communicable, noncommunicable, injuries), consequences of emergencies (including current COVID-19 pandemic), conflicts and massive migrant population movements. Research for health is essential for generating necessary evidence, which contributes to sustainable development, economic growth and sound health policy-making. Moreover, research for health that addresses national public health priorities is essential for developing required evidence for explanations that contribute towards health improvement and can assist in best utilization of available resources towards issues that maximize the research impact on population health.

Visibility and Analytics Network (VAN) approach to improve immunization supply chain and management performance system in Pakistan.

Background: Pakistan has been experiencing several immunization related challenges. The supply chain management information system (MIS) is considered an important component of immunization services as it can improve visibility in key areas such as vaccine shortages or wastage. This study assessed the effectiveness of the Visibility and Analytics Network (VAN) approach in improving vaccine supply and availability of stocks by comparing the situation in intervention and non-intervention districts in Sindh province of Pakistan.

Hepatitis C elimination in Pakistan is a distant dream unless government controls the health sector.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set an ambitious target to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030. Pakistan is one of the focused countries because of the high prevalence of HCV. The prices of direct-acting antiviral drugs(DAA)have significantly reduced to between 11-25 dollars for a month's treatment.

Is Pakistan at the cusp of an ART resistance?

Only 10% of HIV positive individuals in Pakistan are receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and the dropout rate from HIV treatment is extremely high. This short report attempts to highlight the risk of ART resistance. Pakistan National AIDS Control Programme's website reports 15,390 HIV positive persons receiving ART out of which 4,697 (30.

Reuse of syringes for therapeutic injections in Pakistan: rethinking determinants.

Background: Frequent reuse of syringes during medical injections is fuelling epidemics of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infections in many low- and middle-income countries including Pakistan.

Aims: To explore specific factors related to syringe reuse during therapeutic injections.

Methods: We randomly surveyed 319 healthcare providers from 2 socioeconomically diverse districts in Pakistan, along with 625 of their patients.

Injection practices in 2011-2015: a review using data from the demographic and health surveys (DHS).

Background: Reuse of injection devices to give healthcare injections decreased from 39.8 to 5.5% between 2000 and 2010, but trends since 2011 have not been described.

Towards safe injection practices for prevention of hepatitis C transmission in South Asia: Challenges and progress.

Aim: To summarize the available information about injection use and its determinants in the South Asian region.

Methods: We searched published and unpublished literature on injection safety in South Asia published during 1995-2016 using the keywords "injection" "unsafe injection" and "immunization injection" and combined these with each of the countries and/or their respective states or provinces in South Asia. We used a standardized questionnaire to abstract the following data from the articles: the annual number of injections per capita, the proportion of injections administered with a reused syringe or needle, the distribution of injections with respect to prescribers and providers and determinants of injection use.

Risk Factors for Loss to Follow-Up among People Who Inject Drugs in a Risk Reduction Program at Karachi, Pakistan. A Case-Cohort Study.

Introduction: Retention of male people who inject drugs (PWIDs) is a major challenge for harm reduction programs that include sterile needle/syringe exchange in resource-limited settings like Pakistan. We assessed the risk factors for loss to follow-up among male PWIDs enrolled in a risk reduction program in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study among 636 HIV-uninfected male PWIDs enrolled during March-June 2009 in a harm reduction program for the estimation of incidence rate.

Aspiration in injections: should we continue or abandon the practice?

Aspiration during any kind of injection is meant to ensure that the needle tip is at the desired location during this blind procedure. While aspiration appears to be a simple procedure, it has generated a lot of controversy concerning the perceived benefits and indications. Advocates and opponents of aspiration both make logically sound claims.

Correlates of Knowledge of HIV Transmission Among Incident Cases of HIV in a Cohort of Injection Drug Users Receiving Harm Reduction Services at Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Knowledge of risk factors for HIV transmission in high-risk population plays a critical role in averting the risk of HIV transmission. In Pakistan, injection drug users (IDUs) constitute the core risk group of HIV prevalence, where the epidemic has transitioned to a "concentrated level." Still nothing is known about the role of knowledge in HIV transmission and HIV sero-conversion among IDUs in Pakistan.