Prevalence of viral load suppression and acquired drug resistance among people living with HIV in Nepal: a nationally representative surveillance study.

Objectives: This is the first nationally representative study to estimate the prevalence of viral load (VL) suppression and acquired HIV drug resistance (ADR) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Nepal.

Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited 1418 PLHIV from 20 ART centres in Nepal, using a two-stage cluster design. Participants were eligible if they were HIV-positive individuals on ART for 9-15 months or at least 48 months.

The impact of border crossing and imprisonment on injection practices and risk of HIV and hepatitis C infection among men who inject drugs in Nepal.

Background: In Nepal, personal drug use is criminalized and among people who inject drugs (PWID), the majority of whom are men, movement across the border with India for drug procurement and use is common. Using a risk environment approach, this study examined associations between border crossing and imprisonment with respect to HIV, HCV and injection risk behavior among men who inject drugs in Nepal.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 1345 participants from 14 districts across Nepal.

Prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis C and its related risk behaviours among women who inject drugs in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at great risk of HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). In order to properly design interventions and develop programmes for women who inject drugs, this study assessed the prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and syphilis and its risk behaviours among women who inject drugs in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Methods: Through modified network sampling in three districts in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, this cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 160 women who inject drugs.

Community led testing among people who inject drugs: A community centered model to find new cases of HIV and Hepatitis C in Nepal.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWIDs) have sub-optimal HIV and HCV testing as the available testing services are inadequate in low and middle-income countries. We examined a model of Community-Led Testing (CLT) in Nepal, exploring the feasibility of HIV and HCV testing by trained lay service providers who had similar backgrounds to those of PWIDs. We also assessed the prevalence of HIV and HCV within this study population and the associated risk factors among PWIDs.

Prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and assessment of the social and structural determinants of sexual risk behaviour and health service utilisation among MSM and transgender women in Terai highway districts of Nepal: findings based on an integrated biological and behavioural surveillance survey using respondent driven sampling.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people are disproportionately affected by HIV and sexually transmitted infections. MSM and transgender people in Nepal experience considerable discrimination and marginalisation, they are subject to abuse from legal authorities and suffer from mental health issues. These social and structural factors can lead to increased sexual risk behaviour, barriers to accessing health care and result in adverse health outcomes.

Effectiveness of interventions for changing HIV related risk behaviours among key populations in low-income setting: A Meta-Analysis, 2001-2016.

The aim of this review was to conduct a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of behavioural interventions to reduce HIV-related risk behaviours among key populations: people who inject drugs, female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgender in Nepal over the last two decades. Using four electronic databases, we performed a systematic search of the literature on HIV interventions implemented in Nepal and published from January 2001 to December 2016. In addition, grey literature was also scrutinised for potential articles.

International Emergency Medical Teams in the Aftermath of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake.

Introduction: International Emergency Medical Teams' (I-EMTs) response to disasters has been characterized by a late arrival, an over-focus on trauma care, and a lack of coordination and accountability mechanisms. Analysis of I-EMT performance in past and upcoming disasters is deemed necessary to improve future response.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the characteristics, timing, and activities of I-EMTs deployed to the 2015 Nepal earthquake, and to assess their registration and adherence to the World Health Organization Emergency Medical Teams' (WHO-EMT; Geneva, Switzerland) minimum standards compared to past disasters.

HIV awareness and safe sexual behaviors among female sex workers in Kathmandu valley of Nepal.

Purpose: Knowledge on HIV and safe sex practices are the main determinants for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS transmission. The aim of this study was to assess HIV awareness and safe sexual behavior among the female sex workers (FSWs) in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal.

Methods: The study was based on data secondary to Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance surveys of 2093 FSWs in Kathmandu valley from 2006 to 2015.

Why don't key populations access HIV testing and counselling centres in Nepal? Findings based on national surveillance survey.

Objectives: To assess the demographic, behavioural, psychosocial and structural factors associated with non-utilisation of HIV testing and counselling (HTC) services by female sex workers (FSWs) and men who have sex with men/transgender (MSM/TG).

Methods: This study involved a cross-sectional design. We used the national surveillance survey data of 2012, which included 610 FSWs and 400 MSM/TG recruited randomly from 22 and three districts of Nepal, respectively.

Drug use, injecting behaviors, and survival sex among street children and youths in Kathmandu valley, Nepal.

A disproportionate number of street children use and inject drugs and engage in survival sex as coping mechanisms. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of drug use, injecting drugs, survival sex, and condom use and determinants associated with these behaviors among street children. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2016 with an aim to sample 350 street children and youths in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Social determinants and risk behaviors associated with prevalent Hepatitis C and HIV/HCV co-infection among male injection drug users in Nepal.

Background: Nepal is facing double burden of injecting drug use and HIV, yet the problem of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) has not been so well addressed, where there is large population known to be at risk for HCV. This study assessed the prevalence of HCV infection and HIV/HCV co-infection among male injection drug users (IDUs) in Nepal and identified factors associated with infection.

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys in 2015 aimed to sample 1045 male IDUs in the Kathmandu valley, Pokhara Valley and Eastern Terai districts of Nepal.

Systematic Differences in HIV, Syphilis and Risk Behaviors among Street Based and Establishment Based Female Sex Workers in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal.

Background: Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are main drivers of the HIV epidemic in Nepal. The work environment of sex work in Nepal is differentiated into establishment based (e.g.

Sexual risk behaviors, HIV, and syphilis among female sex workers in Nepal.

Purpose: Female sex workers (FSWs) are a key-affected population susceptible to acquiring HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as transmitting the virus to others. The aim of the study was to assess HIV and syphilis prevalence among FSWs in Nepal and to examine factors associated with it.

Materials And Methods: The study was based on Integrated Biological and Behavioral Surveillance (IBBS) surveys among FSWs in Nepal from 2004 to 2015.

Dotting the Three I's for collaborative TB-HIV activities: evaluation of a pilot programme in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The three government tertiary care hospitals providing care for people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in Kathmandu, Nepal. To assess 1) the screening cascades for intensified case finding for tuberculosis (TB), 2) isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), including demographic and clinical factors associated with treatment interruption, and 3) TB infection control (IC) in the health facilities. A cross-sectional study of new PLHIV enrolled from January 2012 to December 2014.

Evaluation of SD Bioline HIV/syphilis Duo rapid test kits in Nepal.

Background: Accurate and prompt diagnosis of HIV and syphilis simultaneously has reinforcing effect on their control program because of their prevalent co-infection. Availability of a simple user-friendly two-pronged and affordable detection tools brings down the cost of health care. They are important in the antenatal clinics, with added opportunity for intervention and prevention of mother to child transmission.

Sexual behaviour of people living with HIV attending a tertiary care government hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal: a cross sectional study.

Background: Clinical improvements that follow antiretroviral therapy (ART) may lead to increase or resumption of high risk activities that could unintentionally result in HIV transmission. The objective was to investigate whether treatment status is a significant predictor of sexual risk behaviour (unprotected sex).

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 160 people living with HIV (PLHIV) (89 ART experienced and 71 ART naïve) attending Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal.