HIV prevention and treatment cascades among female sex workers in Ghana: gaps and priorities that should be addressed by the national programme.

Background: There is currently limited knowledge about HIV prevention and treatment cascades among female sex workers (FSW) in Ghana. This study sought to use the 2020 bio-behavioural survey (BBS) among FSWs to identify gaps and priorities in HIV treatment and prevention cascades to help achieve the 95-95-95 fast track targets.

Method: The study used a cross-sectional design with Time Location Sampling (TLS) technique in all regions of Ghana.

Incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in persons living with HIV initiated on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral regimen in Ghana: an observational longitudinal study.

Background: Few studies have reported hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis in patients on dolutegravir (DTG) treatment. This study determined the effect of DTG on fasting blood glucose levels in a cohort of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in Ghana and initiating DTG regimens.

Methods: A two-year observational longitudinal cohort study conducted from 12th October 2020 to 31st December 2022.

Situational assessment and epidemiology of HIV, HBV and HCV among people who use and inject drugs in Ghana.

Introduction: People who inject drugs (PWID) and people who use drugs (PWUD) are an important population group that remain under-served in Ghana. Though PWID and PWUD are among the key populations most-at-risk to acquire sexually transmitted or blood-borne diseases, they are among those with the least access to human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viruses' prevention, care and treatment services in Ghana due to lack of data on them. We provide a rapid assessment of the PWUD and PWID situation in Ghana.

Unravelling the experiences of incarcerated individuals living with HIV on ART: a qualitative study in Ghanaian prisons.

Purpose: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) goal to end the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 emphasises the importance of leaving no one behind. To determine progress towards the elimination goal in Ghana, an in-depth understanding of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care from the perspective of vulnerable populations such as persons living with HIV in incarceration is necessary. This study aims to explore the experiences of incarcerated individuals living with HIV (ILHIV) and on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in selected Ghanaian prisons to help inform policy.

Hypertension Among Cohort of Persons With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Initiated on a Dolutegravir-Based Antiretroviral Regimen in Ghana.

Background: Dolutegravir (DTG), a new antiretroviral drug, is being integrated into antiretroviral regimens for people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) in Ghana. There is little evidence of the effect of DTG on blood pressure (BP) levels in sub-Saharan Africa, especially West Africa. Our aim was to assess the incidence and predictors of hypertension (HTN) among PWH initiated on a DTG-based antiretroviral regimen in Ghana.

Hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus infections within correctional facilities in Ghana.

Previous studies have suggested high Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence in prisons in Ghana. However, this study was part of a nationally representative bio-behavioural survey and determined the prevalence of HIV and HBV among prison inmates and identified factors associated with these infections. Both biomedical and behavioural data were collected from a total of 2,443 prison inmates from 19 prison stations during 2013 in Ghana; 12 male prisons and 7 female prisons selected across the country.

Human immunodeficiency virus care and management in incarcerated populations in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2010 and 2022: A narrative review.

Background: Different countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have established guidelines to reduce HIV transmission and improve its management in prisons. This narrative review aimed to examine established literature on HIV care and management among incarcerated persons in SSA to identify successful interventions that could inform improved guidelines, policies, and practices related to the clinical care of this population.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and TRIP Medical Databases in August 2022 for articles published between 1st January 2010 and 30th June 2022.

Policymakers' and healthcare providers' perspectives on the introduction of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis for key populations in Ghana.

Background: Key populations (KPs) such as female sex workers (FSWs), men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and their partners contribute more than a quarter (27.5%) of new HIV infection in Ghana. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can substantially reduce HIV acquisition among this group.

High-risk human papillomavirus genotype distribution among women living with HIV; implication for cervical cancer prevention in a resource limited setting.

Background: For women living with HIV (WLHIV), the burden of persistent HPV infection, cervical pre-cancerous lesions and cancer have been demonstrated to be higher than among HIV-negative women. As Ghana and other lower-middle-income countries (LMIC) work toward developing national cervical cancer programmes, it is essential that local scientific evidence be provided to guide policy decisions, especially for such special populations. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of high-risk HPV genotype and related factors among WLHIV and its implication for the prevention of cervical cancer prevention efforts.

Improving the quality of HIV rapid testing in Ghana using the dried tube specimen-based proficiency testing program.

Background: The introduction of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody rapid testing (RT) in resource-limited settings has proven to be a successful intervention to increase access to prevention measures and improve timely linkage to care. However, the quality of testing has not always kept pace with the scale-up of this testing strategy. To monitor the accuracy of HIV RT test results, a national proficiency testing (PT) program was rolled out at selected testing sites in Ghana using the dried tube specimen (DTS) approach.

Behavioural Risk for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C Infections among a Population of Drug Users and Injectors across Four Regions in Ghana.

Background: Blood borne infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV) are of great importance to governments and their implementing partners, especially among people who use drugs (PWUD) and people who inject drugs (PWID). Prevalence and determinants of HIV, HBV, and HCV among PWUD and PWID in Ghana are not well established, the significance of this study.

Method: This assessment was a cross-sectional study implemented via the respondent driven sampling approach.

Prevalence and associations of depression, anxiety, and stress among people living with HIV: A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: An important but much less researched burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Sub-Saharan Africa includes the associated mental health outcomes of living with the virus. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, and describe some of the socio-demographic associations among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Ghana.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana.

Explorative-descriptive study on the effects of COVID-19 on access to antiretroviral therapy services: the case of a teaching hospital in Ghana.

Objective: To explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) services from the perspective of the persons living with HIV (PLWH).

Design: The study adopted an exploratory-descriptive qualitative design that used in-depth interviews as the technique for the data collection. Data analysis was done using conceptual content analysis, following the traditions of Elo and Kyngäs on deductive and Hsieh on inductive content analysis.

Where is the 'C' in antenatal care and postnatal care: A multi-country survey of availability of antenatal and postnatal care in low- and middle-income settings.

Objective: Antenatal (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) are logical entry points for prevention and treatment of pregnancy-related illness and to reduce perinatal mortality. We developed signal functions and assessed availability of the essential components of care.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on ART Service delivery: perspectives of healthcare workers in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana.

Background: Ghana has a generalized HIV epidemic and efforts have been made to curb the spread and reverse its effects on the general population. In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the health system was unsettled and antiretroviral therapy (ART) care has been impacted in diverse ways. The study sought to explore the effects of COVID-19 on ART service provision in Ghana from the perspectives of the healthcare workers.

Perspectives of Policymakers on the Introduction and Scale-Up of HIV Self-Testing and Implication for National HIV Programming in Ghana.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) has the potential to greatly increase HIV testing uptake, particularly among key populations (KPs) at higher risk for HIV. Studies have shown high acceptability and feasibility of HIVST among various target populations globally. However, less is known about the perspectives of policymakers, who are critical to the success of HIVST implementation.

Family-Based Index testing for HIV; a qualitative study of acceptance, barriers/challenges and facilitators among clients in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Family-based Index HIV Testing, (FBIT) approach is known to be associated with a relatively higher testing yield compared to Provider-Initiated Testing and Counselling. The implementation of this strategy in several countries has exposed some barriers to optimal FBIT outcomes. With the scale up of FBIT in Ghana, stakeholder engagement is key in identifying and addressing barriers to implementation.

Experiences and training needs of healthcare providers involved in the care of Ghanaian adolescents living with HIV: an interventional study.

Background: Caring for adolescents living with HIV/AIDS (ALHIV) can be overwhelming due to their unique needs. Ghana is currently among nine countries in West and Central Africa contributing to 90% of new paediatric infections in the sub-region with a growing population of ALHIV. Regardless, gaps in paediatric related care including healthcare providers (HCPs) capacity issues have been identified.

Emerging priorities for HIV service delivery.

Nathan Ford and co-authors discuss global priorities in the provision of HIV prevention and treatment services.

HIV diagnosis disclosure to infected children and adolescents; challenges of family caregivers in the Central Region of Ghana.

Background: Disclosure of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to infected older children and adolescents is essential for both personal health maintenance and HIV prevention within the larger population. Non-disclosure of HIV status has been identified as one of the potential barriers to optimum adherence especially in children and adolescents. Like many other countries in the SSA region, Ghana has significant number of children and adolescents infected by HIV, who have increased survival times, due to increased access to ART.

Availability of HIV services along the continuum of HIV testing, care and treatment in Ghana.

Background: Ghana has been providing HIV and AIDS services since the identification of the first case in 1986 and added highly active antiretroviral therapy to its comprehensive care in 2003.This study aimed at assessing availability of HIV services along the continuum of HIV care in Ghana.

Method: A cross sectional study was conducted among 172 (87%) of the total 197 ART canters in Ghana.

Effect of antiretroviral therapy on all-cause mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana using Mahalanobis distant metric matching within propensity score caliper analysis: A retrospective cohort study.

Several health interventions have been put in place to improve health outcomes of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Ghana. We evaluated the impact of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) on all-cause mortality in Ghana using matching procedures. This was a retrospective cohort study of 12,881 HIV/AIDS patients initiated on ART at 40 sentinel sites and 199 treatment centers between 2013 and 2016 countrywide.

Immunologic and virological response to ART among HIV infected individuals at a tertiary hospital in Ghana.

Background: The need to study the outcome of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected individuals in Ghana, a sub-Saharan African country crucial in the era of the "Treat All" policy. The aim of this study was to analyze selected determinants of immunological and virological response to ART among HIV infected individuals in a tertiary facility in Cape Coast, Ghana.

Methods: An analytical cross sectional study with a retrospective component was conducted in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH), Central Region.

Weight loss practices among newly enrolling clients in a commercial weightloss program in Ghana.

Background: In Ghana, obesity is showing a rising trend and there are weight loss initiatives being practised by individuals. However, the levels of commitment to such programs and the reasons for discontinuing have not been assessed. The objectives of this study were to investigate the weight loss practices of participants and reasons for quitting chosen weight loss programs.