HIV Self-testing Among Previously Diagnosed HIV-Positive People in Khayelitsha, South Africa: No Evidence of Harm but may Facilitate Re-engagement in ART Care.

In South Africa, where an estimated 34% of nearly 7-million HIV-positive people were not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2019, innovative strategies to diagnose and link people to care are needed. HIV self-testing (HIVST) is one such strategy. However, there is concern that access to HIVST might result in re-testing among people on ART, with a risk of false negative results and disengagement from care.

Delivering PrEP to Young Women in a Low-Income Setting in South Africa: Lessons for Providing Both Convenience and Support.

Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key tool in addressing high HIV incidence among young women, and breaking the cycle of transmission. From 2017 to 2020, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) offered PrEP, in conjunction with contraception and risk-reduction counselling, to women aged 18-25, in a government-run clinic in Khayelitsha, a low income high HIV prevalence area in South Africa. Drawing on clinical, quantitative, and qualitative interview data, we describe participants' experiences and engagement with the PrEP program, participant adherence (measured by TFV-DP levels in dried blood spots) over time, and the indirect benefits of the PrEP program.

The epidemiology of rape and sexual violence in the platinum mining district of Rustenburg, South Africa: Prevalence, and factors associated with sexual violence.

Background: Estimates for the prevalence of rape and other forms of sexual violence (SV) vary in South Africa. This survey aimed to provide clarity by quantifying the prevalence of SV (forced sex or sexual acts) by 1) sexual partners, and 2) non-partners, and to describe factors associated with these outcomes among women (18-49 years) living in Rustenburg Municipality.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomized household survey (November-December 2015).

A cluster randomized controlled trial of extending ART refill intervals to six-monthly for anti-retroviral adherence clubs.

Background: The antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence club (AC) differentiated service delivery model, where clinically stable ART patients receive their ART refills and psychosocial support in groups has supported clinically stable patients' retention and viral suppression. Patients and health systems could benefit further by reducing visit frequency and increasing ART refills. We designed a cluster-randomized control trial comparing standard of care (SoC) ACs and six-month ART refill (Intervention) ACs in a large primary care facility in Khayelitsha, South Africa.

Investigating the addition of oral HIV self-tests among populations with high testing coverage - Do they add value? Lessons from a study in Khayelitsha, South Africa.

Introduction: HIV self-testing (HIVST) offers a useful addition to HIV testing services and enables individuals to test privately. Despite recommendations to the contrary, repeat HIV testing is frequent among people already on anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and there are concerns that oral self-testing might lead to false negative results. A study was conducted in Khayelitsha, South Africa, to assess feasibility and uptake of HIVST and linkage-to-care following HIVST.

Stock-outs of antiretroviral and tuberculosis medicines in South Africa: A national cross-sectional survey.

Background: HIV and TB programs have rapidly scaled-up over the past decade in Sub-Saharan Africa and uninterrupted supplies of those medicines are critical to their success. However, estimates of stock-outs are largely unknown. This survey aimed to estimate the extent of stock-outs of antiretroviral and TB medicines in public health facilities across South Africa, which has the world's largest antiretroviral treatment (ART) program and a rising multidrug-resistant TB epidemic.

Removal of user fees and system strengthening improves access to maternity care, reducing neonatal mortality in a district hospital in Lesotho.

Objective: Lesotho has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. While at primary health care (PHC) level maternity care is free, at hospital level co-payments are required from patients. We describe service utilisation and delivery outcomes before and after removal of user fees and quality of delivery care, and associated costs, at St Joseph's Hospital (SJH) in Roma, Lesotho.

The impact of lay counselors on HIV testing rates: quasi-experimental evidence from lay counselor redeployment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the causal effect of the number of lay counselors removed from a primary care clinic in rural South Africa on the number of clinic-based HIV tests performed.

Design: Fixed-effects panel analysis.

Methods: We collected monthly data on the number of lay counselors employed and HIV tests performed at nine primary care clinics in rural KwaZulu-Natal from January 2014 to December 2015.

Delamanid for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis: a retrospective study from South Africa.

Experience with delamanid (Dlm) is limited, particularly among HIV-positive individuals. We describe early efficacy and safety data from a programmatic setting in South Africa.This was a retrospective cohort study of patients receiving Dlm-containing treatment regimens between November 2015 and August 2017.

DOT or SAT for Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis? A non-randomized comparison in a high HIV-prevalence setting.

Background: Daily directly-observed therapy (DOT) is recommended for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) patients throughout treatment. We assessed the impact of self-administered treatment (SAT) in a South African township with high rates of RR-TB and HIV.

Methods: Community-supported SAT for patients who completed the intensive phase was piloted in five primary care clinics in Khayelitsha.

Supervised oral HIV self-testing is accurate in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Objectives: To achieve UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, alternatives to conventional HIV testing models are necessary in South Africa to increase population awareness of their HIV status. One of the alternatives is oral mucosal transudates-based HIV self-testing (OralST). This study describes implementation of counsellor-introduced supervised OralST in a high HIV prevalent rural area.

Delusion-like experiences in older people with anxiety disorders.

Background: Little is known about the occurrence of psychotic or quasi-psychotic experiences in older people with anxiety disorders.

Methods: We used a cross-sectional national probability sample of community-residing individuals to investigate the prevalence and correlates of delusion-like experiences in older people with DSM-IV anxiety disorders. The 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being (NSMHWB) included 1,905 persons between the ages of 65 and 85 years.

One-year evaluation of the impact of an emergency obstetric and neonatal care training program in Western Kenya.

Objective: To determine the impact of introducing an emergency obstetric and neonatal care training program on maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya.

Methods: A prospective chart review was conducted of all deliveries during the 3-month period (November 2009 to January 2010) before the introduction of the Advances in Labor and Risk Management International Program (AIP), and in the 3-month period (August-November 2011) 1 year after the introduction of the AIP. All women who were admitted and delivered after 28 weeks of pregnancy were included.

Are plasma biomarkers of immune activation predictive of HIV progression: a longitudinal comparison and analyses in HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections?

Background: Chronic immune activation is a hallmark of HIV infection and has been associated with disease progression. Assessment of soluble biomarkers indicating immune activation provide clues into pathogenesis and hold promise for the development of point-of-care monitoring of HIV in resource-poor-settings. Their evaluation in cohort resources is therefore needed to further their development and use in HIV research.

Root mass, net primary production and turnover in aspen, jack pine and black spruce forests in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada.

Root biomass, net primary production and turnover were studied in aspen, jack pine and black spruce forests in two contrasting climates. The climate of the Southern Study Area (SSA) near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan is warmer and drier in the summer and milder in the winter than the Northern Study Area (NSA) near Thompson, Manitoba, Canada. Ingrowth soil cores and minirhizotrons were used to quantify fine root net primary production (NPPFR).