Healthcare worker perspectives on HIV status sharing intervention components for partnered, Black sexual minority men in South Africa.

Background: Globally, there is suboptimal coverage of antiretroviral treatment to treat and prevent HIV. It is crucial for individuals to know their partner's HIV status so they may use all appropriate and available prevention tools. For sexual minority men in South Africa, a population known to face intersecting forms of marginalization including a disparate burden of HIV incidence, there are challenges to status sharing.

Breast Cancer Screening among African Immigrants in the United States: An Integrative Review of Barriers, Facilitators, and Interventions.

The purpose of this review was to synthesize the available literature on breast cancer-screening barriers, facilitators, and interventions among U.S. African immigrants.

Characteristics and antiviral treatment eligibility of patients diagnosed with hepatitis B at a teaching hospital in Ghana: Implications for prevention and management.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a considerable public health challenge in limited-resource settings especially in the sub-Saharan African region. Even though HBV infection is incurable, timely treatment is effective in preventing disease progression to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. However, not all infected patients require treatment.

Implementing a male-specific ART counselling curriculum: a quality assessment with healthcare workers in Malawi.

Introduction: There is little HIV counselling that directly meets the needs of men in Eastern and Southern Africa, limiting men's knowledge about the benefits of HIV treatment and how to overcome barriers to engagement, contributing to poorer HIV-related outcomes than women. Male-specific approaches are needed to improve men's outcomes but may be difficult for healthcare workers (HCWs) to implement with fidelity and quality in low-resource settings. We developed a male-specific counselling curriculum which was implemented by male HCWs and then conducted a mixed-methods quality assessment.

A dosimetric evaluation of intensity modulated radiotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer in Ghana.

External beam radiotherapy incorporates treatment techniques such as three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy to deliver high-energy radiation to cancer. The use of IMRT for cancer treatment is also associated with significant costs for patients in low-middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to compare the dosimetric properties of 3DCRT and IMRT treatment plans for the external beam irradiation of patients with prostate cancer (Pca) to ascertain the superiority of IMRT in terms of dose homogeneity, conformity and dose limitation to organs at risk (OAR) in a resource-limited setting.

Youth-friendly services was the magic: Experiences of adolescent girls and young women in the community PrEP study, South Africa.

Adherence to daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has been challenging for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). As part of The Community PrEP Study (CPS), AGYW were randomised to HIV-prevention empowerment counselling (intervention) or basic medication pick-up (control). In this qualitative sub-study, we interviewed AGYW participants ( = 39) to explore PrEP use and study experiences by study arm, and study staff ( = 7) to explore study implementation, site environment, and participant engagement.

Assessment of average glandular dose in mammography practice of a teaching hospital in Ghana.

Introduction: above the age of 40, women are advised to begin breast examinations and screenings for early detection of breast cancer. The average glandular dose (AGD) provides dosimetric information about the quantity of radiation received by the mammary glands during mammographic exposures. There is, therefore, the need to analyse the radiation dose received by patients presenting for mammography examinations.

The emergence of telemedicine in a low-middle-income country: challenges and opportunities.

The quality of cancer care delivery varies across different regions of Ghana, highlighting the need for improved access to quality healthcare services. Telemedicine has emerged as a promising solution to address this disparity, as it can reduce costs and improve access to healthcare services for cancer patients in remote areas. Despite the widely reported benefits of telemedicine, its adoption in low-resource settings has been slow due to several challenges.

Survival rate of cervical cancer: a five year review at a Major Teaching Hospital in Ghana, West Africa.

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among females in Ghana. Despite the magnitude of the public health challenge posed by CC in Ghana, survival data as well as reported incidence and mortality rates are primarily based on studies conducted in the capital city of the country. Even though age at diagnosis is known to affect the overall survival of CC patients, the role of this factor in the prognosis of CC patients in Ghana has not been sufficiently explored.

Biochemical outcome after curative treatment for localized prostate cancer with external beam radiotherapy: a cross-sectional study.

Although many patients who receive definitive radiotherapy (RT) for localised prostate cancer (CaP) experience long-term disease-free survival and better quality of life, some also have biochemical progression during follow-up. Oftentimes this implies additional treatment for patients with the accompanying challenges of cumulative treatment side effects, inconvenience and financial toxicity. This study retrospectively assessed the clinicopathological characteristics and biochemical outcomes of patients treated for localised CaP with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) between 2015 and 2020 at a major cancer treatment centre in Accra, Ghana.

Novel lateral flow assay for point-of-care detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in syndromic management settings: a cross-sectional performance evaluation.

Background: A rapid and affordable point-of-care test is a priority for Neisseria gonorrhoeae control. WHO and Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) have a target product profile for a non-molecular N gonorrhoeae rapid point-of-care test that requires a clinical sensitivity of greater than 80% and a specificity over 95% to be considered useful in syndromic management; test turnaround time should be 30 min or under, and the test should cost less than US$3. A novel lateral flow assay (LFA) was developed to achieve that profile.

Implementation considerations for a point-of-care Neisseria gonorrhoeae rapid diagnostic test at primary healthcare level in South Africa: a qualitative study.

Background: South Africa maintains an integrated health system where syndromic management of sexually transmitted infections (STI) is the standard of care. An estimated 2 million cases of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) occur in South Africa every year.

High study participation but diverging adherence levels: qualitatively unpacking PrEP use among adolescent girls and young women over two years in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

In Southern and Eastern Africa, initiation of daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention has been high among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) offered PrEP. However, persistence and prevention-effective use of PrEP among this critical group continues to be a challenge. We conducted a qualitative sub-study of AGYW from the Community PrEP Study in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa who had high rates of pick up for monthly PrEP refills over two years, but differing levels of PrEP adherence based on tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) measurements in dried blood spots (DBS).

Factors that influence adolescent girls and young women's re-initiation or complete discontinuation from daily oral PrEP use: a qualitative study from Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Introduction: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) face barriers that jeopardize their prevention-effective use of daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We sought to understand factors that influence AGYW's prolonged breaks in PrEP use, and their decisions to re-initiate or discontinue using PrEP in the context of a community-based adherence support intervention.

Methods: In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted between December 2019 and April 2021 with purposively selected AGYW (aged 16-25) enrolled in the Community PrEP Study (CPS) in Buffalo City Metro Health District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Developing the Speaking Out and Allying Relationships Intervention on Videoconference for HIV-Positive GBMSM in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

In South Africa, HIV prevalence for gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (GBMSM) is as high as 49.5%, yet only 25.7% are taking treatment, resulting in transmission risk between partners and the need for dyadic interventions for men in relationships.

Usability of a novel lateral flow assay for the point-of-care detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: A qualitative time-series assessment among healthcare workers in South Africa.

Accurate and user-friendly rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests (POCT) are needed to optimize treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, especially in low-resource settings where syndromic management is the standard of care for sexually transmitted infections. This study aimed to assess the acceptability and usability of a novel lateral flow assay and portable reader for the point-of-care detection of N. gonorrhoeae infection (NG-LFA).

"Ultimately, You Realize You're on Your Own": The Impact of Prostate Cancer on Gay and Bisexual Men Couples.

An estimated one in three gay and bisexual (GB) male couples receive a prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis over their life course with limited understanding of the impacts on their relationships. Psychological distress related to PCa diagnosis and treatment-related side effects have been shown to disrupt established GB partnership dynamics. Communication barriers often develop within GB relationships affected by PCa, further exacerbating couple tensions, isolating partners, and lowering quality of life for both patients and partners.

"I know why I am taking this pill": Young women navigation of disclosure and support for PrEP uptake and adherence in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

There is limited understanding of the dynamic interplay between adolescent girl's and young women's (AGYW) disclosure and social support for using oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and adherence. Towards this, we conducted interviews with 42 AGYW enrolled in The Community PrEP Study who exhibited either high or low blood concentrations of tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) in dried blood spots. Guided by Theories of Practice, interviews and analysis focused on AGYW perspectives and experiences with PrEP disclosure, support and adherence.

What motivated men to start PrEP? A cross-section of men starting PrEP in Buffalo city municipality, South Africa.

Background: Compared to women, South African men are less likely to know their HIV status (78% vs. 89%), have suppressed viral loads (82% vs. 90%), or access HIV prevention services.

Diversities in the place of delivery choice: a study among expectant mothers in Ghana.

Background: In this study, the factors that influence the choice of place of delivery among expectant mothers in both rural and urban settings in the northern part of Ghana were identified and compared using the conceptual framework provided by Thaddeus and Maine.

Methods: A mixed-method study was used to examine expectant mothers and their responses related to factors that affect their choice of place of delivery through a concurrent triangulation using health professional interviews and a detailed participant survey. The sample consisted of 552 expectant mothers between the ages of 15 and 49 years.

Qualitative Identification of Intervention Preferences to Support Men's Engagement and Retention in TB Care in South Africa.

Globally and in South African specifically, men account for 56% and 62% of all tuberculosis (TB) cases, respectively. Men are at increased risk of not accessing TB testing or treatment, and having poor treatment outcomes. Unfortunately, no interventions exist to address these issues.

An exploratory study to characterize the HIV testing-to-care continuum to improve outcomes for Black and Latinx residents of South Los Angeles.

Background: South Los Angeles (SPA6), with mostly Black (27.4%) and Latinx (68.2%) residents, has the second highest rates of new HIV diagnoses (31 per 100,000) in Los Angeles County.

Improving ART initiation among men who use HIV self-testing in Malawi: a qualitative study.

Introduction: HIV self-testing (HIVST) increases HIV testing uptake among men; however, the linkage to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIVST users is low. Innovative strategies for ART initiation are needed, yet little is known about the unique barriers to care experienced by male HIVST users, and what ART-related interventions men desire.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with cisgender men (≥15 years) in Malawi who tested HIV positive using HIVST between 2018 and 2020, as well as interviews with their female partners (≥15 years) who distributed the HIVST kits.