Review of Impact of Risk Reduction Sessions on Sexual Behaviors in HIV Prevention Trials: Insights from Africa.

Over the past two decades, numerous HIV prevention trials have targeted thousands of young African women, aiming not only to reduce transmissions through biomedical interventions but also to promote safe sexual practices through intensive risk reduction sessions. The primary objective of this study was to review the impact of risk reduction sessions in HIV prevention trials conducted in Africa. We assessed changes in sexual behaviors among women enrolled in various biomedical intervention trials across the African region using both visual and quantitative evaluations.

Evaluation of face validity and core concepts of a novel knowledge scale for inherited heart disease: A pilot study.

The rising demand for genetic counseling has prompted the implementation of various innovative service delivery models, such as patient webinars, videos, chatbots, and the integration of genetic testing into mainstream healthcare. To ensure patients receive adequate information for informed decision-making, validated measures to assess these models are essential but currently limited in the setting of inherited heart disease. We aimed to develop and initiate validation of a cardiac knowledge scale, as part of the Multidimensional Model of Informed Choice measure, to assess whether patients (probands and family members) with inherited cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, and aortopathies are provided with sufficient knowledge to make informed decisions about genetic testing.

Utilising integrated bio-behavioural surveillance (IBBS) to investigate declining hepatitis C antibody prevalence among people who inject drugs in the Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey.

Background: Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab) on dried blood spot (DBS) samples in the Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey (ANSPS) decreased nationally from 57 % in 2015 to 32 % in 2022. We aimed to investigate potential explanations for this decline.

Methods: Changes in DBS HCV Ab prevalence were investigated by redefining positive cases as those with those with either a positive HCV Ab test result or a self-reported history of ever having HCV treatment (modified prevalence), examining HCV Ab prevalence by birth and age cohorts, and assessing trends in key risk behaviours.

"How well do we know our patients?": Further validation of a complexity rating scale for HIV.

Background: Despite advances in the management and treatment of HIV, identifying risks for disengagement are essential to maximize positive outcomes. The current study investigated the validity of the Clinical Complexity Rating Scale for HIV (CCRS-HIV), a risk-prediction tool, by assessing agreement between patient and clinician scores of patient complexity.

Methods: 207 patients completed the patient version of the CCRS-HIV (CCRS-HIV), and six Attending Medical Officers (AMOs) caring for those individuals completed the original clinician version (CCRS-HIV).

Geospatial correlations and variations in child mortality and stunting in South Africa: Evaluating distal vs structural determinants.

South Africa has one of the highest child mortality and stunting rates in the world. Flexible geoadditive models were used to investigate the geospatial variations in child mortality and stunting in South Africa. We used consecutive rounds of national surveys (2008-2017).

Utilising Integrated Bio-behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) to investigate declining hepatitis C antibody prevalence among people who inject drugs in the Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey.

Background: Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody (Ab) on dried blood spot (DBS) samples in the Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey (ANSPS) decreased nationally from 57% in 2015 to 32% in 2022. We aimed to investigate potential explanations for this decline.

Methods: Changes in DBS HCV Ab prevalence were investigated by redefining positive cases as those with those with either a positive HCV Ab test result or a self-reported history of ever having HCV treatment (modified prevalence), examining HCV Ab prevalence by birth and age cohorts, and assessing trends in key risk behaviours.

Acceptability of self-collected vaginal swabs and point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted and genital infections among pregnant women in Papua New Guinea.

The self-collection of vaginal swabs and point-of-care testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is reported from several low-and middle-income countries. However, the reporting on women's experiences of self-collection and same-day testing and treatment of STIs is less well described. In this paper, we present the acceptability of self-collected vaginal swabs and point-of-care testing and treatment among pregnant women enrolled in a clinical trial (Women and Newborn Trial of Antenatal Intervention and Management - WANTAIM) in Papua New Guinea.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus exposure and infection among Indigenous and tribal populations: a global systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) exposure and infection among Indigenous and tribal populations globally.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We systematically searched bibliographic databases and grey literature (1/01/2000-16/06/2022).

Understanding the impact of women's correct risk perception on human immunodeficiency virus diagnosis: Insights from South Africa.

Background: South African women have the highest burden of HIV infections globally. We investigated the temporal trends and the impact of key factors associated with HIV diagnosis among a nationally representative cohort of South African women.

Methods: Total of 24,657 women who participated in the National HIV, Behaviour and Health Surveys conducted from 2002-to-2017.

Preventing Stunting in South African Children Under 5: Evaluating the Combined Impacts of Maternal Characteristics and Low Socioeconomic Conditions.

More than 140 million children under five suffered from stunting in 2020. This highlights the ongoing challenge of addressing childhood malnutrition globally. We utilized data from a nationally representative sample of children under five years of age (n = 14,151) who participated in five cycles of the South African National Income Dynamics Study (SA-NIDS) (2008-2017).

Effectiveness of one and two doses of ivermectin mass drug administration in reducing the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in Western Province, Solomon Islands: a cluster-randomised, before-after analysis.

Background: Ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA) is effective for controlling onchocerciasis and scabies, with evidence supporting its role in some species of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections. In the context of RISE, a cluster-randomised trial for scabies, this study evaluated the effectiveness of ivermectin MDA in reducing STH burden in the Western Province of Solomon Islands.

Methods: Twenty villages were randomised 1:1 to receive ivermectin MDA as one dose (IVM-1) or two doses (IVM-2) for scabies.

Centralization of Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Systematic Review and Spline Regression Analysis to Recommend Minimum Volume for a Specialist Pancreas Service.

Objective: Through a systematic review and spline curve analysis, to better define the minimum volume threshold for hospitals to perform (pancreaticoduodenectomy) and the high-volume center.

Background: The pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a resource-intensive procedure, with high morbidity and long hospital stays resulting in centralization towards high-volume hospitals; the published definition of high volume remains variable.

Materials And Methods: Following a systematic review of studies comparing PD outcomes across volume groups, semiparametric regression modeling of morbidity (%), mortality (%), length of stay (days), lymph node harvest (number of nodes), and cost ($USD) as continuous variables were performed and fitted as a smoothed function of splines.

Exploring Whether the Electronic Optimization of Routine Health Assessments Can Increase Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Provider Acceptability at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service: Mixed Methods Evaluation.

Background: In the context of a syphilis outbreak in neighboring states, a multifaceted systems change to increase testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young Aboriginal people aged 15 to 29 years was implemented at an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) in New South Wales, Australia. The components included electronic medical record prompts and automated pathology test sets to increase STI testing in annual routine health assessments, the credentialing of nurses and Aboriginal health practitioners to conduct STI tests independently, pathology request forms presigned by a physician, and improved data reporting.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether the systems change increased the integration of STI testing into routine health assessments by clinicians between April 2019 and March 2020, the inclusion of syphilis tests in STI testing, and STI testing uptake overall.

Integrating testing for sexually transmissible infections into annual health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people: a cross-sectional analysis.

Background: In the context of an expanding syphilis epidemic, we assessed the integration of sexually transmissible infection (STI) testing within annual health assessments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people aged 16-29years in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services between 2018 and 2020.

Methods: Using routinely collected electronic medical record data from a national sentinel surveillance system (ATLAS), we performed a cross-sectional analysis to calculate the proportion of assessments that integrated any or all of the tests for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and HIV. We used logistic regression to identify correlates of integration of any STI test.

The impact of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate, and albendazole mass drug administration on the prevalence of scabies and soil-transmitted helminths in school-aged children in three municipalities in Timor-Leste: a before-after assessment.

Background: Integrated programmes that use combination mass drug administration (MDA) might improve control of multiple neglected tropical diseases simultaneously. We investigated the impact of Timor-Leste's national ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine citrate, and albendazole MDA, for lymphatic filariasis elimination and soil-transmitted helminth (STH) control, on scabies, impetigo, and STH infections.

Methods: We did a before-after study in six primary schools across three municipalities in Timor-Leste (urban [Dili], semi-urban [Ermera], and rural [Manufahi]) before (April 23 to May 11, 2019) and 18 months after (Nov 9 to Nov 27, 2020) MDA delivery between May 17 and June 1, 2019.

Spatial variations in STIs among women enrolled in HIV prevention clinical trials in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

South Africa is faced with a high HIV and STI prevalence and incidence, respectively, with pockets of high burden areas driving these diseases. Localised monitoring of the HIV epidemic and STI endemic would enable more effective targeted prevention strategies. We assessed spatial variations in curable STI incidence among a cohort of women enrolled in HIV prevention clinical trials between 2002 and 2012.

Geospatial variations in socioeconomic conditions and health outcomes in COVID-19 era: insights from South Africa (2020-2022).

South Africa also has the highest burden of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related comorbidities in Africa. We aimed to quantify the temporal and geospatial changes in unemployment, food insecurity, and their combined impact on depressive symptoms among South Africans who participated into several rounds of national surveys. We estimated the population-attributable risk percent () for the combinations of the risk factors after accounting for their correlation structure in multifactorial setting.