The experiences of women diagnosed with uterine fibroids in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Background: Uterine fibroids (UFs) are benign uterine growths that significantly impact women's daily activities, quality of life, fertility and expenditure.

Aim: This study aimed to provide in-depth insights into the lived experiences of women diagnosed with UFs.

Setting: The study was conducted in Eswatini health facilities across the four geographic regions.

Mapping evidence on the distribution of uterine fibroids in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review protocol.

Background: Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic benign tumours found in reproductive-aged women and may affect up to 70% of all women by menopause. Uterine fibroids place a heavy burden on women and society resulting in poor quality of life, impaired self-image, and impaired social, sexual, emotional, and physical well-being of affected individuals.

Aim: This study aims to map the evidence on the burden of uterine fibroids in Sub-Saharan Africa; uterine fibroids' burden by age, uterine fibroids' geographic burden, uterine fibroids' cost estimation and reported experiences among women diagnosed with uterine fibroids.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of chlamydia and gonorrhoea infections among men who have sex with men in Durban, South Africa.

Despite significant research on the prevalence of STIs in South African men who have sex with men (MSM), recent data on the prevalence and risk factors for curable STI infections among this key populations are limited. This study determined the prevalence of and risk factors associated with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections among MSM. The sample consisted of 200 MSM resident in Durban.

": Examining the neglect and abuse of older persons in HIV prevention and care programs.

Background: As the global population ages and the HIV pandemic matures, a growing number of older persons aged ≥50 years are becoming increasingly vulnerable to acquiring HIV. Unfortunately, older persons are often neglected and left out of sexual health programs and services. This study explored the experiences of older persons living with and without HIV in accessing prevention and care services and how those experiences translate into the neglect and abuse of older persons.

An economic incentive package to support the wellbeing of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: a feasibility study protocol for a pilot randomised trial.

Background: The mental and financial strain linked to unpaid caregiving has been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. In sub-Saharan Africa, carers of adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are critical for maintenance of optimum HIV treatment outcomes. However, the ability of caregivers to provide quality care to ALHIV is undermined by their ability to maintain their own wellbeing due to multiple factors (viz.

Disability, a priority area for health research in South Africa: an analysis of the burden of disease study 2017.

Purpose: Disabilities are increasing globally, which is attributed to the overall ageing of populations in affluent countries. This trend may differ in low and middle-income countries. This paper assesses the change over time in Years Lived with Disability (YLD) for South Africa and how this compares to regional and global trends.

Assessment of cardiovascular disease risks using Framingham risk scores (FRS) in HIV-positive and HIV-negative older adults in South Africa.

The relationship between HIV and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remains complex. The aim of this study was to estimate the 10-year CVD risk among HIV-positive and HIV-negative people. The validated Framingham Risk Score (FRS) based on the Framingham Heart study was used to predict the CVD risk.

Herpes simplex virus-2 infections in pregnant women from South Africa: Evaluation of the ImmunoFLOW rapid test.

The diagnostic performance of ImmunoFLOW, a rapid test for detecting herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infections, was investigated in 248 antenatal women. Approximately one hundred and seventy-seven (71%) of the enrolled women were infected with HSV-2. Sero-positivity was associated with older age ([≥ 30 years] 104/177, 58%), having a secondary level of education but not tertiary level of education (125/177, 70.

Prevalent Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Increases the Risk of Incident Bacterial Vaginosis in Women from South Africa.

Studies have shown that women diagnosed with herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) have a higher risk for bacterial vaginosis (BV) infection. We investigated the presence of HSV-2 infections as a risk factor for incident BV infections in high risk, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) uninfected women enrolled in a HIV prevention trial in Durban, South Africa. The Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic trial was a multicentre, double blinded, randomized controlled trial which was designed to estimate the effectiveness of daily treatment with vaginal tenofovir gel, oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and oral Truvada in preventing HIV-1 infection in women.

Health expenditure and catastrophic spending among older adults living with HIV.

Introduction: The burden of HIV is increasing among adults aged over 50, who generally experience increased risk of cormorbid illnesses and poorer financial protection. We compared patterns of health utilisation and expenditure among HIV-positive and HIV-negative adults over 50.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Study on global AGEing and adult health in South Africa with analysis focusing on individual and household-level data of 147 HIV-positive and 2725 HIV-negative respondents.

Decreased chronic morbidity but elevated HIV associated cytokine levels in HIV-infected older adults receiving HIV treatment: benefit of enhanced access to care?

Background: The association of HIV with chronic morbidity and inflammatory markers (cytokines) in older adults (50+years) is potentially relevant for clinical care, but data from African populations is scarce.

Objective: To examine levels of chronic morbidity by HIV and ART status in older adults (50+years) and subsequent associations with selected pro-inflammatory cytokines and body mass index.

Methods: Ordinary, ordered and generalized ordered logistic regression techniques were employed to compare chronic morbidity (heart disease (angina), arthritis, stroke, hypertension, asthma and diabetes) and cytokines (Interleukins-1 and -6, C-Reactive Protein and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) by HIV and ART status on a cross-sectional random sample of 422 older adults nested within a defined rural South African population based demographic surveillance.

Health, wellbeing, and disability among older people infected or affected by HIV in Uganda and South Africa.

Objective: To describe and compare the health status, emotional wellbeing, and functional status of older people in Uganda and South Africa who are HIV infected or affected by HIV in their families.

Methods: Data came from the general population cohort and Entebbe cohort of the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, and from the Africa Centre Demographic Information System through cross-sectional surveys in 2009/10 using instruments adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE). Analysis was based on 932 people aged 50 years or older (510 Uganda, 422 South Africa).

An investigation of factors associated with the health and well-being of HIV-infected or HIV-affected older people in rural South Africa.

Background: Despite the severe impact of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, the health of older people aged 50+ is often overlooked owing to the dearth of data on the direct and indirect effects of HIV on older people's health status and well-being. The aim of this study was to examine correlates of health and well-being of HIV-infected older people relative to HIV-affected people in rural South Africa, defined as participants with an HIV-infected or death of an adult child due to HIV-related cause.

Methods: Data were collected within the Africa Centre surveillance area using instruments adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE).

Gender differentials in the impact of parental death: Adolescent's sexual behaviour and risk of HIV infection in rural South Africa.

Using data from a longitudinal surveillance study from rural South Africa, we investigated the odds of sexual debut, pregnancy and HIV infection of 15- to 19-year-old adolescents by parental survival. Using descriptive statistics and logistic regressions, we examine the relative risk of orphans compared with non-orphans to have ever had sex, being pregnant and being HIV infected, adjusting for age, sex, socio-economic status, education, being employed and residency. Of 8274 adolescents, 42% were orphaned (one or both parents died).

Adjusting HIV prevalence for survey non-response using mortality rates: an application of the method using surveillance data from Rural South Africa.

Background: The main source of HIV prevalence estimates are household and population-based surveys; however, high refusal rates may hinder the interpretation of such estimates. The study objective was to evaluate whether population HIV prevalence estimates can be adjusted for survey non-response using mortality rates.

Methodology/principal Findings: Data come from the longitudinal Africa Centre Demographic Information System (ACDIS), in rural South Africa.

Mortality levels and trends by HIV serostatus in rural South Africa.

Objective: To examine mortality differentials in HIV-infected and uninfected adults by demographic characteristics and the effect of non-testing on the level and pattern of age-sex specific mortality.

Methods: Three annual prospective population-based HIV surveys between 2003 and 2006 provide information regarding individual adult HIV status; households were visited twice a year to collect information about births, deaths, migrations and other demographic, health and socioeconomic data. Deaths and person-years of exposure were aggregated for each calendar year between 2004 and 2006, from which mortality rates were derived.