HIV and hepatitis B, C co-infection and correlates of HIV infection among men who have sex with men in Rwanda, 2021: a respondent-driven sampling, cross-sectional study.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are a key population group disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide. In Rwanda, the HIV epidemic remains a significant public health concern, and understanding the burden of HIV and hepatitis B and C coinfections among MSM is crucial for designing effective prevention and control strategies. This study aims to determine the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C infections among MSM in Rwanda and identify correlates associated with HIV infection within this population.

Estimation of the Population Size of Street- and Venue-Based Female Sex Workers and Sexually Exploited Minors in Rwanda in 2022: 3-Source Capture-Recapture.

Background: HIV surveillance among key populations is a priority in all epidemic settings. Female sex workers (FSWs) globally as well as in Rwanda are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic; hence, the Rwanda HIV and AIDS National Strategic Plan (2018-2024) has adopted regular surveillance of population size estimation (PSE) of FSWs every 2-3 years.

Objective: We aimed at estimating, for the fourth time, the population size of street- and venue-based FSWs and sexually exploited minors aged ≥15 years in Rwanda.

Population Size Estimation of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Rwanda: Three-Source Capture-Recapture Method.

Background: Globally, men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to bear a disproportionately high burden of HIV infection. Rwanda experiences a mixed HIV epidemic, which is generalized in the adult population, with aspects of a concentrated epidemic among certain key populations at higher risk of HIV infection, including MSM. Limited data exist to estimate the population size of MSM at a national scale; hence, an important piece is missing in determining the denominators to use in estimates for policy makers, program managers, and planners to effectively monitor HIV epidemic control.

High HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among female sex workers in Rwanda.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence is often high among female sex workers (FSWs) in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the dynamics of HIV infection in this key population is critical to developing appropriate prevention strategies. We aimed to describe the prevalence and associated risk factors among a sample of FSWs in Rwanda from a survey conducted in 2010.

HIV surveillance in Rwanda: readiness assessment to transition from antenatal care-based to prevention of mother-to-child transmission program-based HIV surveillance.

Background: In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that for efficiency and ethical considerations, transitioning from antenatal clinic-based surveillance to prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)-based routine data should be investigated. An assessment of the readiness for this transition was carried out in Rwanda in 2011 and 2013.

Methods: This assessment applied the WHO recommended method.

Estimation of the size of the female sex worker population in Rwanda using three different methods.

HIV prevalence is disproportionately high among female sex workers compared to the general population. Many African countries lack useful data on the size of female sex worker populations to inform national HIV programmes. A female sex worker size estimation exercise using three different venue-based methodologies was conducted among female sex workers in all provinces of Rwanda in August 2010.