Global reporting of progress towards elimination of hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Background: The 69th World Health Assembly endorsed the global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Achieving and measuring the 2030 targets requires a substantial increase in the capacity to test and treat viral hepatitis infections and a mechanism to monitor the progress of hepatitis elimination. This study aimed to identify the gaps in data availability or quality and create a new mechanism to monitor the progress of hepatitis elimination.

Attitudes and acceptability of children, caregivers, and healthcare providers about using telemedicine for pediatric HIV care in a resource-limited setting.

Background: The Pediatric HIV Telemedicine Initiative is a video-linked delivery of expert services, designed to reach those previously unable to access expert HIV care. The present qualitative study was designed to understand the acceptability of telemedicine [TM] by patients, their caregivers and health care providers in the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centers in Maharashtra.

Methods: We conducted focus group discussions with caregivers at six ART centres (three linked with TM facilities and three not linked with TM).

Assessment of country implementation of the WHO global health sector strategy on sexually transmitted infections (2016-2021).

Background: In 2016, WHO launched the Global Health Sector Strategy on STIs, 2016-2021 (GHSS) to provide guidance and benchmarks for country achievement by 2020 and four global targets for achievement by 2030.

Methods: A country survey jointly developed by experienced technical personnel at WHO Headquarters (HQ) and WHO regional offices was reviewed and distributed by WHO regional advisors to 194 WHO Member States in September-March 2020. The survey sought to assess implementation and prioritization of STI policy, surveillance, service delivery, commodity availability, and surveillance based on targets of the GHSS.

Seroprevalence and burden of hepatitis C virus infection in WHO South-East Asia Region: A systematic review.

Background: This systematic review was aimed to estimate hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence and burden in disease in WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR).

Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar) and websites of non-indexed national medical journals, government and international health agencies were searched to identify English language literature published between 1991 and June 2020. We selected the studies reporting HCV seroprevalence in asymptomatic general (low-risk) and high-risk adult populations, that is, persons living with HIV (PLHIV), persons who inject drugs (PWID), sex workers, persons on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), people in prison, and men sex with men (MSM).

AmBisome Monotherapy and Combination AmBisome-Miltefosine Therapy for the Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Patients Coinfected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in India: A Randomized Open-Label, Parallel-Arm, Phase 3 Trial.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presents an increasingly important patient cohort in areas where both infections are endemic. Evidence for treatment is sparce, with no high-quality studies from the Indian subcontinent.

Methods: This is a randomized, open-label, parallel-arm, phase 3 trial conducted within a single hospital in Patna, India.