Factors Associated with Maternal-Child Transmission of HIV-1 in Southeastern Brazil: A Retrospective Study.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is the main mode of HIV-1 acquisition among young children worldwide. The goals of this study were to estimate the proportion of HIV MTCT and to identify factors associated with transmission. We reviewed data for HIV-infected pregnant women that had been reported to the National Information on Reportable Diseases System (SINAN) in Espírito Santo state, Brazil, between January 2007 and December 2012.

Home-Based Care and Perceived Quality of Life Among People Living with HIV in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the perceptions of quality of life among people living with HIV who received home-based care services administered through outpatient clinics in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. Data were collected from a sample of 180 consecutively selected participants (86 cases, 94 controls) at four outpatient clinics, all of whom were on antiretroviral therapy. Quality of life was evaluated using the WHOQOL-BREF instrument.

Integration of HIV/AIDS services with maternal, neonatal and child health, nutrition, and family planning services.

Background: The integration of HIV/AIDS and maternal, neonatal, child health and nutrition services (MNCHN), including family planning (FP) is recognized as a key strategy to reduce maternal and child mortality and control the HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of service integration.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of integrating MNCHN-FP and HIV/AIDS services on health, behavioral, and economic outcomes and to identify research gaps.

Interventions to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy in children with HIV infection.

Background: Achieving and maintaining high levels of medication adherence are required to achieve the full benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART), yet suboptimal adherence among children is common in both developed and developing countries.

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of the literature of evaluations of interventions for improving paediatric ART adherence.

Search Methods: We created a comprehensive search strategy in order to identify all studies relevant to this topic.

Sexual and reproductive health services for people living with HIV: a systematic review.

People living with HIV often have unmet needs for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. We present results of a systematic review of studies offering SRH services targeted to people living with HIV. Studies were selected from a broader SRH and HIV linkages review.

Linking sexual and reproductive health and HIV interventions: a systematic review.

Background: The international community agrees that the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved without ensuring universal access to both sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support. Recently, there has been increasing awareness and discussion of the possible benefits of linkages between SRH and HIV programmes at the policy, systems and service delivery levels. However, the evidence for the efficacy of these linkages has not been systematically assessed.

Linking family planning with HIV/AIDS interventions: a systematic review of the evidence.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the literature and examine the effectiveness, optimal circumstances, and best practices for strengthening linkages between family planning and HIV interventions.

Design: Systematic review of peer-reviewed articles and unpublished program reports ('promising practices') evaluating interventions linking family planning and HIV services.

Methods: Articles were included if they reported post-intervention evaluation results from an intervention linking family planning and HIV services between 1990 and 2007.

Community, family, and partner-related stigma experienced by pregnant and postpartum women with HIV in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Pregnant and postpartum women with HIV often face stigma and discrimination at home and in the community. In Vietnam, associations between HIV and the "social evils" of drug use and sex work contribute to stigmatization of people with HIV. We conducted a qualitative study to explore discrimination experienced by HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women in Ho Chi Minh City at home and in the community.

A qualitative study of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) are a pressing problem in Vietnam, in particular because of propaganda associating HIV with the "social evils" of sex work and drug use. There is little understanding of the causes and sequelae of stigma and discrimination against PLHIV in Vietnam. Fifty-three PLHIV participated in focus group discussions in Ho Chi Minh City.