Barriers and facilitators to primary care for people living with HIV and diabetes in Harare.

Background:  People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and comorbid diabetes mellitus (DM) face significant challenges owing to the complex interplay between these chronic conditions and the need for comprehensive and integrated care. Service availability and readiness for primary care are essential for the health of individuals and populations.

Aim:  This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to the provision of care to the patients with HIV and T2DM comorbidity.

Integrated chronic care models for people with comorbid of HIV and non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.

Background: Integrated health care is an approach characterized by a high degree of collaboration and communication among health professionals. Integration of HIV/NCD is recommended to enhance the quality of healthcare services being provided. Duplication of limited resources is minimized, and a holistic care approach is promoted by shifting from acute and reactive care to care that embraces patient-centredness that includes promotive health and disease surveillance.

Diabetes mellitus and associated factors among HIV-positive patients at primary health care facilities in Harare, Zimbabwe: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Background: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved the life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLWH) and has increased the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases. Comorbid HIV and diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly increase cardiovascular disease and mortality risk. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among HIV-positive patients receiving HAART in Zimbabwe and its associated risk factors.

Mapping evidence on factors contributing to maternal and child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review protocol.

Background: Maternal and child mortality remains a major public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with the region having the highest under-five mortality rates, where approximately 1 in 11 children, dies before the age of 5 years. This is nearly 15 times the average in high-income countries (HICs). This scoping review is aimed at mapping evidence on the factors contributing to maternal and child mortality in SSA.

Exploring factors enabling the spread of COVID-19: Narratives of health professionals in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are affected by an array of health problems ranging from the weak infrastructure health system to the shortage of equipment and qualified personnel in hospitals and other medical facilities. This makes it difficult for health systems in these countries to withstand pandemics like COVID-19 leading to a rapid infection of the population. This research study was set to explore the factors enabling the spread of COVID-19 in the city of Harare.

Exploring the challenges of women taking antiretroviral treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in peri-urban Harare, Zimbabwe.

Objective: To explore the challenges of women taking antiretroviral treatment (ART) during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in a peri-urban area.

Methods: An exploratory qualitative study approach was used. Semi-structured questions were devised and used to elicit data on the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on women accessing treatment for HIV.

Knowledge, attitude, perception, and preventative practices towards COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review.

Background: Knowledge, attitudes, perception, and preventative practices regarding coronavirus- 2019 (COVID-19) are crucial in its prevention and control. Several studies have noted that the majority of people in sub-Saharan African are noncompliant with proposed health and safety measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and respective country health departments. In most sub-Saharan African countries, noncompliance is attributable to ignorance and misinformation, thereby raising questions about people's knowledge, attitudes, perception, and practices towards COVID-19 in these settings.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown in a developing country: narratives of self-employed women in Ndola, Zambia.

Women are normally self-employed in businesses involving buying and selling of goods. Such businesses were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down. The researchers explored the impact the of COVID-19 lockdown on self-employed women.

Hypertension among human immunodeficiency virus infected patients on treatment at Parirenyatwa Hospital: A descriptive study.

Background: Since the roll-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) in the early 2000s, the life expectancy of people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has increased. However, the gains made in reducing mortality from HIV-related complications have been mitigated by the emergence of age-related chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension. Protease inhibitors (PIs), and prolonged exposure to highly active ART (HAART) have been implicated in the development of hypertension in HIV-positive people.