Current Issue : October-December Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 4 Articles : 6 Articles
HIV/AIDS remains a critical public health challenge in South Africa, particularly among young women who are disproportionately affected. Comprehensive knowledge and appropriate behavioural responses are essential for preventing transmission and managing the disease. To determine comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS, STI’s as well as the sexual behaviour among young women aged 18 – 24 years in Tshwane Sub district 1, Gauteng province, South Africa. A quantitative crosssectional survey was conducted in Tshwane District, Gauteng province. The self-administered questionnaire was completed by 400 young women from four health care facilities rendering youthfriendly services. They indicated high knowledge scores for HIV/AIDS, STI’s and sexual behaviour, although most young people had risky sexual practices towards HIV/AIDS and that there were misconceptions about prevention and transmission methods of HIV. Despite high knowledge on STI’s, 27% of the participants self-reported to have had STIs. While most young women in Tshwane possess good knowledge of HIV/AIDS, a considerable proportion still engage in behaviours that increase their risk of infection. This disconnects between knowledge and practice highlights the need for more targeted interventions that not only educate but also empower young women to make safer sexual health choices. Comprehensive strategies addressing both knowledge and socioeconomic barriers are essential for reducing HIV transmission in this vulnerable population....
Diagnosing HIV‐1 infection as early as the primary infection is crucial. In this context, we performed a comparative evaluation and agreement analysis of the newly proposed serological assay for the combined detection of total antibodies against HIV and P24 antigen (HIV VIDAS® DUO AG/AB, bioMérieux®), with the previously available HIV VIDAS® DUO Ultra assay in the well characterized acute‐HIV‐infection multicentric ANRS‐CO‐06‐PRIMO Cohort in classification of Fiebig stages combined with confirmatory testing. Samples collected on the day of enrollment in the cohort, between April 2024 and June 2025, were analyzed with both serological assays. We also performed a recency infection assay, an HIV‐1 westernblotting and the measurement of HIV‐RNA. Acute infection was classified according to Fiebig stages and compared between both assays. All samples (n = 77) were positive with both assays. One major discordance was noted, with a positive antigen and a negative antibody reaction with DUO AG/AB, with an opposite configuration with DUO Ultra. A high proportion of not determinable signals (26% to 68%) was noted with both assays, prompting a difficulty in classifying acute infection stages in the absence of confirmatory assays. The high rate of not determinable signals especially with P24 antigen with both assays demonstrated in our study, could prompt a difficulty in acute infection classification according to Fiebig....
Background/Objectives: Despite widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART) use, whether the expected transition from AIDS-defining to non-AIDS-defining cancers has occurred in settings with persistent late HIV presentation remains unclear. We examined long-term cancer patterns, determinants, and survival outcomes in a large HIV cohort. Methods: This retrospective, single-center cohort included 1419 people living with HIV followed between 2006 and 2024. Patients who developed malignancy were classified as AIDS-defining cancers (ADC) or non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADC). Immuno-virological parameters were assessed at HIV and cancer diagnosis. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier methods, and predictors of mortality were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Determinants of ADC development were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Temporal changes were evaluated by trend analysis. Results: Sixty-six patients (4.6%) developed malignancy (31 ADC, 35 NADC). Late HIV presentation was common, with 72.7% having CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts < 350 cells/mm3 at cancer diagnosis, particularly among ADC cases. Most ADCs (93.5%) occurred within 24 months of HIV diagnosis. Overall survival did not differ between ADC and NADC groups (log-rank p = 0.14). Although mortality declined after 2015, temporal changes in ADC and NADC proportions did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.14). In Cox regression analysis, viral suppression before death or last follow-up was independently associated with lower mortality risk (HR 0.12; 95% CI 0.05–0.31). Lower CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts were associated with ADC development, and a CD4+ T-lymphocyte threshold of 295 cells/mm3 showed good discriminative performance (AUC = 0.83), although this cutoff should be interpreted cautiously due to the lack of external validation. Conclusions: In this long-term cohort from Türkiye, a clear epidemiological transition from ADC to NADC could not be demonstrated. The cancer spectrum remained strongly influenced by late HIV presentation and advanced immunodeficiency. Sustained viral suppression was independently associated with lower mortality risk, supporting the importance of early HIV diagnosis, timely ART initiation, and sustained virological control....
HIV remains a major global public health problem. HIV infection alters the natural history of HBV and worsens the prognosis for patients with chronic hepatitis B. Since the advent of ARVs, chronic infection with the forgotten hepatitis B virus (HBV) has become relevant again in the population of people living with HIV (PLWH). Viral load plays a crucial role in patient classification and treatment initiation. This is a prospective longitudinal cohort; patient recruitment took place at the start of antiretroviral treatment (at treatment initiation), and the study lasted 6 months, from July 2025 to January 2026. The study population consisted of male and female patients over 18 years of age. It was carried out in patients co-infected with HIV/HBV and placed on TLD triple antiretroviral therapy. We included in the study, all Patients co-infected with HIV/HBV eligible for antiretroviral treatment of both sexes, followed at the CHU-RN, CHU-ATC and APMS. The VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease rapid test is an immunochromatographic assay that estimates full length CD4 protein associated with CD4+ T cells in human whole blood, and is directly correlated with CD4+ T cells levels. For the viral loads of HIV RNA and HBV DNA we used the BIOCENTRIC device. The extraction technique used was that recommended by BIOCENTRIC. For amplification, the main components of the Generic HIV viral loads and Generic HBV viral loads amplification Kits (BIOCENTRIC) were used. In total, 129 patients were included in the study, of whom 59.7% were women, i.e. a sex ratio of 0.67. The average age was 35 (±2) years (p = 0.036). Regarding the clinical stages, about 35.7% were at clinical stage I, 40.3% were at clinical stage II, and 20.2% were at clinical stage III. Regarding HBV DNA detectability, 97.7% were positive for detectable HBV DNA. The failure rate of CD4+ T lymphocytes ≤ 200 cells/μL was 65.9% at the start of antiretroviral treatment initiation at (M0); after 6 months (M6) of treatment the level of CD4 T Lymphocytes ≤ 200 cells/μL was 16.3%. The viral load RNA HIV was high (≥ 1000 copies/ml) at M0 (62.8%) followed by 13.2% after 3 months of treatment and 3.9% after 6 months of treatment in the population studied. The majority of participants in the study exhibited encouraging outcomes regarding viral load, with 6.2% viral loads below 1000 copies/ml at sixth month. The HBV DNA viral load is high ≥ 2000 IU/mL in 52.7% at the initiation of treatment at zero months (M0); after 3 months of treatment 7.0% and after 6 months of treatment 4.9%. The therapeutic regimen studied presents an efficacy profile and constitutes a relevant first-line option in the management of HIV/HBV co-infected patients in Chad. Nevertheless, prolonged longitudinal follow-up remains necessary in order to assess the durability of the virological response and the long-term evolution of hepatic parameters....
Background: HIV-HBV co-infection remains a major public health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. HBV co-infection worsens clinical outcomes among people living with HIV by accelerating liver disease and complicating treatment. Although antiretroviral therapy can effectively suppress both viruses, achieving optimal HIV viral suppression remains critical for reducing morbidity and transmission. While several factors influencing viral suppression among PLHIV are well documented, evidence on HIV viral suppression among HIV-HBV co-infected individuals is limited, especially in resource-limited settings like Ethiopia. Furthermore, data on the magnitude of viral suppression and its associated factors in this population are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of HIV viral suppression and identify its associated factors among adult HIVHBV co-infected patients in Northwest Ethiopia. Objective: This study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with HIV viral suppression among adult people living with HIV-HBV Co-infection in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Northwest Ethiopia among adults with HIV-HBV co-infection on antiretroviral therapy. A simple random sample of 402 participants was selected. Data were collected using a pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and medical record review, covering sociodemographic, clinical, behavioral, treatment, follow-up, and adherence factors. HIV viral suppression was defined as a plasma viral load < 1000 copies/mL. Data were coded in EpiData 4.6 and analyzed using STATA 18. Descriptive statistics estimated suppression rates. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with suppression; variables with p < 0.25 in bivariable analysis were included in the multivariable model. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 with adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals reported. Model fit was assessed using the Hosmer–Lemeshow test, and multicollinearity was checked using variance inflation factors. Results: There were 423 participants in all. Among the 423 HIV-HBV co-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy included in this study, 138 (34, CI, 30–39%) achieved HIV viral suppression, while 264 (66%) had an unsuppressed viral load at the time of assessment. Viral suppression was found to be independently correlated with the ART TDF-3TC-LPV/r regimen, first-line medication adherence, bedridden functional level, missed clinic appointments, and length of therapy. While TDF-3TC-LPV/r usage (AOR 2.34; 95% CI: 1.40–3.90) and longer treatment duration (AOR 2.09; 95% CI: 1.30–3.34) were advantageous, good adherence significantly improved the likelihood of suppression (AOR 5.54; 95% CI: 3.27–9.38). Missed appointments and a bedridden state decreased the likelihood of suppression. Conclusions: HIV viral suppression was achieved in only 34% of participants. Adherence, ART regimen, treatment duration, functional status, and retention in care were significant predictors. Strengthening adherence support, patient retention, optimized ART regimens, routine viral load monitoring, and targeted care for high-risk patients could improve treatment outcomes and help Ethiopia achieve UNAIDS viral suppression targets....
Background: HIV/AIDS remains a major global public health challenge, with persistent regional disparities in burden and progress toward the UNAIDS 95–95–95 targets. This study assessed temporal trends in the HIV/AIDS burden in Kazakhstan, compared them with Central Asia and global patterns, and projected trends through 2030. Methods: We conducted a population-level analysis using Global Burden of Disease 2023 data, examining age-standardized rates (per 100,000) of incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLLs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) from 2010 to 2023. Trends were quantified using percent change and average annual percentage change, with projections based on log-linear models. Results: Between 2010 and 2023, prevalence in Kazakhstan increased by 332.1% and incidence by 111.0%, contrasting with the decline in global incidence (−24.7%). Mortality decreased (−32.7%), along with DALYs (−28.8%) and YLLs (−37.1%), while YLDs increased by 135.5%, indicating a shift toward a chronic disease burden. In 2023, Kazakhstan had a lower overall burden than global estimates but showed steeper increases in incidence and prevalence. Age-specific analyses indicated the largest increases among adults aged 30–69 years. Under current trend assumptions, projections suggest continued growth in prevalence and incidence, with modest mortality declines through 2030, though these trajectories do not account for future changes in prevention coverage, treatment access, or policy. Conclusions: Kazakhstan is undergoing a transition toward a chronic HIV epidemic, underscoring the need to strengthen prevention, expand PrEP and testing coverage, and address structural barriers to achieve epidemic control....
Loading....