Reaching for 90:90:90 in Correctional Facilities in South Africa and Zambia: Virtual Cross-Section of Coverage of HIV Testing and Antiretroviral Therapy During Universal Test and Treat Implementation.

Background: People in correctional settings are a key population for HIV epidemic control. We sought to demonstrate scale-up of universal test and treat in correctional facilities in South Africa and Zambia through a virtual cross-sectional analysis.

Methods: We used routine data on 2 dates: At the start of universal test and treat implementation (time 1, T1) and 1 year later (time 2, T2).

Exploring the syndemic interaction between social, environmental and structural contexts of HIV infection in peri-mining areas in South Africa: a qualitative study.

Objective: To explore the syndemic interaction between social, environmental, and structural contexts and HIV infection in peri-mining areas in South Africa.

Design: Mixed qualitative methods consisting of in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) exploring the interaction between HIV infection and the social, environmental and structural factors affecting people living in the peri-mining areas of South Africa. Themes were analysed following the syndemic theoretical framework.

Assessment of the performance of the plasma separation card for HIV-1 viral load monitoring in South Africa.

Unlabelled: Scaling up of newer innovations that address the limitations of the dried blood spot and the logistics of plasma monitoring is needed. We employed a multi-site, cross-sectional assessment of the plasma separation card (PSC) on blood specimens collected from all consenting adults, assenting young and pediatric patients living with HIV from 10 primary healthcare clinics in South Africa. Venous blood for EDTA-plasma samples was collected and analyzed according to the standard of care assay, while collected capillary blood for the PSC samples was analyzed using the Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan (CAP/CTM) HIV-1 Test at the National Reference laboratories.

Small area analysis of HIV viral load suppression patterns in a high priority district (2012-2016), South Africa.

Globally, high viral load (VL) suppression rates are indicators of successful HIV treatment programs. Evaluation of these programmes at lower levels is likely to highlight variations that are masked at the provincial or national levels. This ecological study used routinely collected clinical and surveillance data on the HIV programme from 88 sampled Ekurhuleni wards.

Understanding factors influencing utilization of HIV prevention and treatment services among patients and providers in a heterogeneous setting: A qualitative study from South Africa.

Despite advances made in HIV prevention and treatment interventions in South Africa, barriers to their utilization continue to exist. Understanding perspectives from patients and providers of healthcare can shed light on the necessary strategies to enhance uptake of HIV services. A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted in July 2020 in Ekurhuleni District.

Preventive Treatment for Household Contacts of Drug-Susceptible Tuberculosis Patients.

People who live in the household of someone with infectious pulmonary tuberculosis are at a high risk of tuberculosis infection and subsequent progression to tuberculosis disease. These individuals are prioritized for contact investigation and tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT). The treatment of TB infection is critical to prevent the progression of infection to disease and is prioritized in household contacts.

Assessing spatial patterns of HIV prevalence and interventions in semi-urban settings in South Africa. Implications for spatially targeted interventions.

Equitable allocation of resources targeting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at the local level requires focusing interventions in areas of the greatest need. Understanding the geographical variation in the HIV epidemic and uptake of selected HIV prevention and treatment programmes are necessary to identify such areas. Individual-level HIV data were obtained from a 2012 national HIV survey in South Africa.

Costs of implementing universal test and treat in three correctional facilities in South Africa and Zambia.

Introduction: Universal test and treat (UTT) is a population-based strategy that aims to ensure widespread HIV testing and rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all who have tested positive regardless of CD4 count to decrease HIV incidence and improve health outcomes. Little is known about the specific resources required to implement UTT in correctional facilities for incarcerated people. The primary aim of this study was to describe the resources used to implement UTT and to provide detailed costing to inform UTT scale-up in similar settings.

The geography of COVID-19 misinformation: using geospatial maps for targeted messaging to combat misinformation on COVID-19, South Africa.

Objective: The proliferation of false information on COVID-19 mostly through social media is adversely affecting control efforts. The objective of this study was to identify areas where targeted effective messaging can be useful in demystifying misinformation against COVID-19.

Results: The study showed high levels of misinformation on COVID-19 in the study area [mean score 2.

The geography of emergency department-based HIV testing in South Africa: Can patients link to care?

Background: Emergency Departments (EDs) can serve as clinical sites for identification of new HIV infections and their entry into care. We examined if HIV-positive patients who present to EDs in South Africa are able to successfully link to care.

Methods: We conducted a one-year longitudinal prospective cohort study in four hospitals across the Eastern Cape, South Africa, with participants followed between July 2016 and July 2018.

Correction: HIV-related stigma and uptake of antiretroviral treatment among incarcerated individuals living with HIV/AIDS in South African correctional settings: A mixed methods analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Factors associated with high HIV-related stigma among commuter populations in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Stigma remains an important barrier to seeking and staying in care among individuals infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Despite continued widespread information, education and communication campaigns to raise awareness about the infection. The aim of the study was to identify factors related to HIV stigma among a commuter population in the inner-city Johannesburg.

Impact of the DREAMS interventions on educational attainment among adolescent girls and young women: Causal analysis of a prospective cohort in urban Kenya.

Background: DREAMS promotes a comprehensive HIV prevention approach to reduce HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). One pathway that DREAMS seeks to impact is to support AGYW to stay in school and achieve secondary education. We assessed the impact of DREAMS on educational outcomes among AGYW in Nairobi, Kenya.

HIV-related stigma and uptake of antiretroviral treatment among incarcerated individuals living with HIV/AIDS in South African correctional settings: A mixed methods analysis.

Background: Stigma affects engagement with HIV healthcare services. We investigated the prevalence and experience of stigma among incarcerated people living with HIV (PLHIV) in selected South African correctional settings during roll-out of universal test and treat.

Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods study design included 219 incarcerated PLHIV and 30 in-depth interviews were conducted with four different types of PLHIV.

An ecological study to evaluate the association of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination on cases of SARS-CoV2 infection and mortality from COVID-19.

As the SARS-CoV2 pandemic has progressed, there have been marked geographical differences in the pace and extent of its spread. We evaluated the association of BCG vaccination on morbidity and mortality of SARS-CoV2, adjusted for country-specific responses to the epidemic, demographics and health. SARS-CoV2 cases and deaths as reported by 31 May 2020 in the World Health Organization situation reports were used.

Universal test-and-treat in Zambian and South African correctional facilities: a multisite prospective cohort study.

Background: Despite the global scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART), incarcerated people have not benefited equally from test-and-treat recommendations for HIV. To improve access to ART for incarcerated people with HIV, we introduced a universal test-and-treat (UTT) intervention in correctional facilities in South Africa and Zambia, and aimed to assess UTT feasibility and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Treatment as Prevention (TasP) was a multisite, mixed methods, implementation research study done at three correctional complexes in South Africa (Johnannesburg and Breede River) and Zambia (Lusaka).

Estimating the yield of tuberculosis from key populations to inform targeted interventions in South Africa: a scoping review.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) case finding strategies are recommended to increase yield for TB in key populations. Several key populations are identified in the literature, but techniques for estimating yield and prioritising interventions are needed.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review of existing evidence on TB burden to assess contribution of key populations to the TB epidemic in South Africa.

"It's Not Like Taking Chocolates": Factors Influencing the Feasibility and Sustainability of Universal Test and Treat in Correctional Health Systems in Zambia and South Africa.

Background: Sub-Saharan African correctional facilities concentrate large numbers of people who are living with HIV or at risk for HIV infection. Universal test and treat (UTT) is widely recognized as a promising approach to improve the health of individuals and a population health strategy to reduce new HIV infections. In this study, we explored the feasibility and sustainability of implementing UTT in correctional facilities in Zambia and South Africa.

Use of contraceptives, high risk births and under-five mortality in Sub Saharan Africa: evidence from Kenyan (2014) and Zimbabwean (2011) demographic health surveys.

Background: Increasing uptake of modern contraception is done to alleviate maternal and infant mortality in poor countries. We describe prevalence of contraceptive use, high risk births, under-five mortality and their risk factors in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis on DHS data from Kenya (2014) and Zimbabwe (2011) for women aged 15-49.

Incidence, patterns and risk factors for injuries among Ugandan children.

There is limited epidemiological data on childhood injuries in developing countries. This study assessed the incidence, patterns and risk factors for injuries among children aged 0-5 years in Wakiso District, Uganda. To determine differences, chi-square and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used.

Prevalence of anogenital HPV infection, related disease and risk factors among HIV-infected men in inner-city Johannesburg, South Africa: baseline findings from a cohort study.

Background: Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection is associated with the development of anogenital cancers, particularly in men living with HIV (MLWH). We describe the prevalence of anogenital HPV infection, abnormal anal cytology and anogenital warts (AGWs) in MLWH in Johannesburg, and explore whether HPV infection and receipt of antiretroviral treatment is associated with detection of abnormal anal cytology and AGWs.

Methods: We enrolled a cohort of 304 sexually-active MLWH ≥18 years, who completed a questionnaire and physical examination.

Using surrogate vaccines to assess feasibility and acceptability of future HIV vaccine trials in men: a randomised trial in inner-city Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: Developing an effective HIV vaccine is the overriding priority for HIV prevention research. Enrolling and maintaining cohorts of men into HIV vaccine efficacy trials is a necessary prerequisite for the development and licensure of a safe and efficacious vaccine.

Methods: One hundred-fifty consenting HIV-negative men were enrolled into a pilot 1:1 randomised controlled trial of immediate vaccination with a three-dose hepatitis B vaccine compared to deferred vaccination (at 12 months) to investigate feasibility and acceptability of a future HIV vaccine trial in this population.

Wasting, underweight and stunting among children with congenital heart disease presenting at Mulago hospital, Uganda.

Background: Children with congenital heart disease are at increased risk of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of wasting, underweight and stunting among children with congenital heart disease attending Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study among 194 children aged 0-15 years was conducted between August 2013 and March 2014.

Investigating Sociodemographic Factors and HIV Risk Behaviors Associated With Social Networking Among Adolescents in Soweto, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Internet access via mobile phones and computers facilitates interaction and potential health communication among individuals through social networking. Many South African adolescents own mobile phones and can access social networks via apps.

Objective: We investigated sociodemographic factors and HIV risk behaviors of adolescent social networking users in Soweto, South Africa.