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.

Implementation of an HIV Case Based Surveillance Using Standards-Based Health Information Exchange in Rwanda.

As Rwanda approaches the UNAIDS Fast Track goals which recommend that 95% of HIV-infected individuals know their status, of whom 95% should receive treatment and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression, the country currently relies on an inefficient paper, and disjointed electronic, systems for case-based surveillance (CBS). Rwanda has established an ecosystem of interoperable systems based on open standards to support HIV CBS. Data were successfully exchanged between an EMR, a client registry, laboratory information system and DHIS-2 Tracker, and subsequently, a complete analytic dataset was ingested into MS-Power Business Intelligence (MS-PowerBI) for analytics and visualization of the CBS data.

Understanding Gender-Based Violence Service Delivery in CDC-Supported Health Facilities: 15 Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2017-2021.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a complex issue deeply rooted in social structures, making its eradication challenging. GBV increases the risk of HIV transmission and is a barrier to HIV testing, care, and treatment. Quality clinical services for GBV, which includes the provision of HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), vary, and service delivery data are lacking.

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.

Acquired HIV drug resistance among adults living with HIV receiving first-line antiretroviral therapy in Rwanda: A cross-sectional nationally representative survey.

Background: We assessed the prevalence of acquired HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) and associated factors among patients receiving first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Rwanda.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 702 patients receiving first-line ART for at least 6 months with last viral load (VL) results ≥1000 copies/mL. Blood plasma samples were subjected to VL testing; specimens with unsuppressed VL were genotyped to identify HIVDR-associated mutations.

Brief Report: Active HIV Case Finding in the City of Kigali, Rwanda: Assessment of Voluntary Assisted Partner Notification Modalities to Detect Undiagnosed HIV Infections.

Background: Voluntary assisted partner notification (VAPN) services that use contract, provider, or dual referral modalities may be efficient to identify individuals with undiagnosed HIV infection. We aimed to assess the relative effectiveness of VAPN modalities in identifying undiagnosed HIV infections.

Setting: VAPN was piloted in 23 health facilities in Kigali, Rwanda.