Use of routinely collected blood donation data for expanded HIV and Syphilis surveillance in Blantyre district, Malawi.

The World Health Organization recommends that all blood donations be screened for transfusion transmissible infections; these data are currently not incorporated into national disease surveillance efforts. We set out to use routinely collected data from blood donors in Blantyre district, Malawi to explore HIV and syphilis prevalence and identify sero-conversions among repeat donors. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of blood donation data collected by the Malawi Blood Transfusion Service from 2015 to 2021.

Characterising HIV acquisition risk, treatment gaps and populations reached through venue-based outreach and clinical services in Blantyre, Malawi: findings from a district-wide CLOVE Study.

Background: In 2017, Blantyre district had the highest adult HIV prevalence in Malawi (17.7%) and lowest viral suppression (60%). In response, the Ministry of Health expanded prevention and treatment services.

Biobehavioral survey using time location sampling among female sex workers living in Ghana in 2020.

Background: The HIV epidemic in Ghana is characterized as a mix of a low-level generalized epidemic with significant contributions from transmission among female sex workers (FSW) and their clients. This study seeks to identify and describe key characteristics and sexual behaviors of FSW and estimate the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) among FSW in Ghana.

Method: A total of 7,000 FSW were recruited for the study using Time Location Sampling (TLS) approach with 5,990 (85.

Clinic presentation delay and tuberculosis treatment outcomes in the Lake Victoria region of East Africa: A multi-site prospective cohort study.

In the Lake Victoria region of East Africa, little is known about delays between tuberculosis (TB) symptom onset and presentation at a clinic. Associations between clinic presentation delay and TB treatment outcomes are also poorly understood. In 2019, we abstracted data from routine TB treatment records for all adults (n = 776) initiating TB treatment in a 6-month period across 12 health facilities near Lake Victoria.

Geographic mobility and treatment outcomes among people in care for tuberculosis in the Lake Victoria region of East Africa: A multi-site prospective cohort study.

Geographic mobility may disrupt continuity of care and contribute to poor clinical outcomes among people receiving treatment for tuberculosis (TB). This may occur especially where health services are not well coordinated across international borders, particularly in lower and middle income country settings. In this work, we describe mobility and the relationship between mobility and unfavorable TB treatment outcomes (i.

A Two-stage Approach for Rapid Assessment of the Proportion Achieving Viral Suppression Using Routine Clinical Data.

Background: Improving viral suppression among people with HIV reduces morbidity, mortality, and transmission. Accordingly, monitoring the proportion of patients with a suppressed viral load is important to optimizing HIV care and treatment programs. But viral load data are often incomplete in clinical records.

National and subnational size estimation of female sex workers in Ghana 2020: Comparing 3-source capture-recapture with other approaches.

Background: Key Population size estimation (PSE) is instrumental for HIV/STI preventive, treatment and care services planning, implementation and delivery. The objective was to estimate the overall population of female sex workers (FSW) in all the 16 regions of Ghana using different PSE methods.

Method: Mapping of venues and complete enumeration of seaters was conducted at the formative stage prior to the bio-behavioral survey (BBS).

HIV Prevalence and the HIV Treatment Cascade Among Female Sex Workers in Cross-Border Areas in East Africa.

In cross-border areas of East Africa, sexual networks include partnerships across resident, migrant, and mobile populations, and risky behaviors can coincide with fragmented health services given the challenges of cross-border coordination. Among those most at risk are female sex workers (FSWs). We map HIV prevalence among FSWs in 14 cross-border areas, estimate associations between FSW characteristics and HIV and undiagnosed HIV, and estimate progress towards the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets.

Differences in Access to HIV Services and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Malawian Women at Social Venues Who Do and Do Not Engage in Sex Work.

In the high HIV-burden country of Malawi, female sex workers (FSW) are one of the populations most profoundly affected by HIV. The Malawi Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts (PLACE) surveyed 1,004 self-identified FSW, 213 other FSW (OFSW), and 130 other high risk women (OHRW) at social venues. Analyses compared the three groups using survey-weighted log binomial regression models.

Increasing Men's Engagement in HIV Testing and Treatment Programs Through Crowdsourcing: A Mixed-Methods Analysis in Eswatini.

Background: Sub-Saharan African HIV programs have had limited success in engaging men. Crowdsourcing contests may be a useful method to spur men's engagement in HIV services. We evaluated contributions and social media response to a crowdsourcing contest focused on increasing men's engagement in Eswatini HIV services.

Using factor analyses to estimate the number of female sex workers across Malawi from multiple regional sources.

Purpose: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risks are heterogeneous in nature even in generalized epidemics. However, data are often missing for those at highest risk of HIV, including female sex workers. Statistical models may be used to address data gaps where direct, empiric estimates do not exist.

Access to HIV prevention services in East African cross-border areas: a 2016-2017 cross-sectional bio-behavioural study.

Introduction: East African cross-border areas are visited by mobile and vulnerable populations, such as men, female sex workers, men who have sex with men, truck drivers, fisher folks and young women. These groups may not benefit from traditional HIV prevention interventions available at the health facilities where they live, but may benefit from services offered at public venues identified as places where people meet new sexual partners (e.g.

Improving HIV outreach testing yield at cross-border venues in East Africa.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate HIV testing yield under several candidate strategies for outreach testing at venues (i.e. places where people socialize and meet new sex partners) in East Africa cross-border areas.

Sex work, discrimination, drug use and violence: a pattern for HIV risk among transgender sex workers compared to MSM sex workers and other MSM in Guatemala.

The risk of HIV infection is higher among transgender women and cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) compared to the general population due in part to social and contextual factors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and association of alcohol and drug abuse, discrimination and violence among transgender sex workers compared to cisgender male sex workers and cisgender men who had not received money for sex in Guatemala City. In 2010, transgender women and cisgender men who had had sex with men or transgender women were recruited into a cross-sectional behavioural survey.

Estimating Hidden Population Sizes with Venue-based Sampling: Extensions of the Generalized Network Scale-up Estimator.

Background: Researchers use a variety of population size estimation methods to determine the sizes of key populations at elevated risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), an important step in quantifying epidemic impact, advocating for high-risk groups, and planning, implementing, and monitoring prevention, care, and treatment programs. Conventional procedures often use information about sample respondents' social network contacts to estimate the sizes of key populations of interest. A recent study proposes a generalized network scale-up method that combines two samples-a traditional sample of the general population and a link-tracing sample of the hidden population-and produces more accurate results with fewer assumptions than conventional approaches.

The burden of HIV among female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgender women in Haiti: results from the 2016 Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts (PLACE) study.

Introduction: Despite the higher risk of HIV among female sex workers (FSWs), men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW), these populations are under-represented in the literature on HIV in Haiti. Here, we present the first nationally representative estimates of HIV prevalence and the first care and treatment cascade for FSWs, MSM and TGW in Haiti. We also examine the social determinants of HIV prevalence in these groups and estimate FSW and MSM population size in Haiti.

Programmatic Mapping: Providing Evidence for High Impact HIV Prevention Programs for Female Sex Workers.

Programmatic mapping (PM) is a rapid and efficient mechanism to develop size estimates of key populations including female sex workers (FSWs) and geolocate them at physical locations in a systematic and scientific manner. At the macro level, this information forms the basis for allocating program resources, setting performance targets, and assess coverage. At a micro level, PM data provide specific information on hot spots, estimates of FSWs at those spots, and hot spot typology and days and times of operation, all of which provides targeted service delivery strategies.

How Can Programs Better Support Female Sex Workers to Avoid HIV Infection in Zimbabwe? A Prevention Cascade Analysis.

Background: "HIV prevention cascades" have been proposed to support programs by identifying gaps in demand for, access to, and capability to adhere to HIV prevention tools, but there are few empirical examples to guide development. We apply a prevention cascade framework to examine prevention coverage and factors associated with condoms and/or PrEP adherence among female sex workers.

Setting: Seven sites across Zimbabwe.

The HIV care continuum among resident and non-resident populations found in venues in East Africa cross-border areas.

Introduction: HIV care and treatment in cross-border areas in East Africa face challenges perhaps not seen to the same extent in other geographic areas, particularly for mobile and migrant populations. Here, we estimate the proportion of people with HIV found in these cross-border areas in each stage of the HIV care and treatment cascade, including the proportion who knows their status, the proportion on treatment and the proportion virally suppressed.

Methods: Participants (n = 11,410) working or socializing in public places in selected East Africa cross border areas were recruited between June 2016 and February 2017 using the Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts method and administered a behavioural survey and rapid HIV test.

Reaching key populations through key venues: Insights from the Jamaica HIV Prevention Program.

Introduction: HIV prevention strategies often include outreach to female sex workers at social venues identified as places where people meet new sexual partners. Patrons and staff at these venues may include female sex workers, their clients, as well as others who have high rates of new sexual partnerships. Few studies have compared HIV/STI among venue-based and general populations, across types of venues, or by sub-group of the venue population.

Can HIV service data be used for surveillance purposes?: a case study in Guangzhou, China.

Background: Timely monitoring HIV epidemic among key populations is a formidable challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the agreement between data collected from an enhanced HIV sentinel surveillance (HSS+) and an HIV service, and to discuss whether testing service data can be used for surveillance purposes.

Methods: The HSS+ data were collected from HIV sentinel surveillance conducted annually among men who have sex with men (MSM) between 2009 and 2013 in Guangzhou, China.

Estimating Sizes of Key Populations at the National Level: Considerations for Study Design and Analysis.

Background: National estimates of the sizes of key populations, including female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender women are critical to inform national and international responses to the HIV pandemic. However, epidemiologic studies typically provide size estimates for only limited high priority geographic areas. This article illustrates a two-stage approach to obtain a national key population size estimate in the Dominican Republic using available estimates and publicly available contextual information.

Achieving the first 90 for key populations in sub-Saharan Africa through venue-based outreach: challenges and opportunities for HIV prevention based on PLACE study findings from Malawi and Angola.

Introduction: Providing outreach HIV prevention services at venues (i.e. "hotspots") where people meet new sex partners can decrease barriers to HIV testing services (HTS) for key populations (KP) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Opportunities for Enhanced Strategic Use of Surveys, Medical Records, and Program Data for HIV Surveillance of Key Populations: Scoping Review.

Background: Normative guidelines from the World Health Organization recommend tracking strategic information indicators among key populations. Monitoring progress in the global response to the HIV epidemic uses indicators put forward by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. These include the 90-90-90 targets that require a realignment of surveillance data, routinely collected program data, and medical record data, which historically have developed separately.