Cervical cancer screening delay and associated factors among women with HIV in Lesotho: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are particularly at risk of developing it. Regular screening effectively prevents morbidity and mortality. This mixed-methods study quantitatively assessed cervical cancer screening uptake and qualitatively explored the process of undergoing cervical cancer screening to understand possible reasons for delayed screening among women with HIV in Lesotho.

Stakeholder perspectives on interventions to improve HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake and continuation in Lesotho: A participant-ranked preferences study.

Low uptake and high discontinuation remain major obstacles to realizing the potential of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in changing the trajectory of the HIV epidemic. We conducted a card sorting and ranking exercise with 155 local stakeholders to determine their views on the most important barriers and most promising interventions to achieving high PrEP coverage. Stakeholders were a purposive sample of PrEP policymakers and implementing partners (n = 7), healthcare providers (n = 51), and end-users (n = 97).

Motivations for pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake and decline in an HIV-hyperendemic setting: findings from a qualitative implementation study in Lesotho.

Background: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has demonstrated clinical efficacy in preventing HIV infection, yet its uptake remains low. This study, conducted in five PrEP implementing districts in Lesotho, examined factors motivating persons at risk of HIV infection to adopt or reject PrEP when offered freely.

Methods: In-depth interviews were undertaken with stakeholders directly engaged with PrEP policy (n = 5), program implementation (n = 4), and use (current PrEP users = 55, former PrEP users = 36, and PrEP decliners (n = 6)).

Knowledge and attitudes about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: Evidence from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with policy makers, healthcare providers, and end-users in Lesotho.

Studies on knowledge and attitudes about HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have mostly focused on key populations in North America and Europe. To inform Lesotho's national rollout of PrEP to the general population, this study aimed to characterize knowledge and attitudes about PrEP among policy makers, implementing partners, healthcare providers, and PrEP end-users in Lesotho. Respondents were purposively selected to participate based on personal experience in the development and implementation of Lesotho's PrEP program, or the personal use of PrEP.

Protecting the gains: analysis of HIV treatment and service delivery programme data and interventions implemented in 19 African countries during COVID-19.

Introduction: The potential disruption in antiretroviral therapy (ART) services in Africa at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic raised concern for increased morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We describe HIV treatment trends before and during the pandemic and interventions implemented to mitigate COVID-19 impact among countries supported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Methods: We analysed quantitative and qualitative data reported by 10,387 PEPFAR-CDC-supported ART sites in 19 African countries between October 2019 and March 2021.

HIV Incidence by Male Circumcision Status From the Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment Surveys-Eight Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2015-2017.

Background: Male circumcision (MC) offers men lifelong partial protection from heterosexually acquired HIV infection. The impact of MC on HIV incidence has not been quantified in nationally representative samples. Data from the population-based HIV impact assessments were used to compare HIV incidence by MC status in countries implementing voluntary medical MC (VMMC) programs.