Lovemore Mapahla - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
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BMC Infectious Diseases
Background Patient retention in care and sustained viral load suppression are a cornerstone to im... more Background Patient retention in care and sustained viral load suppression are a cornerstone to improved health and quality of life, among people living with HIV. However, challenges of retention on ART remain among female sex workers (FSWs). We report lost to follow up (LTFU), viral load suppression, and the associated factors among FSWs that access HIV treatment at primary health care facilities in Kampala. Methods We retrospectively abstracted and analysed patient management data of HIV positive FSWs who enrolled in care between January 2018 to December 2020. LTFU was defined as failure of a FSW to return for treatment at least 90 days from the date of their last clinic appointment. We defined viral suppression as having a last viral load of ≤ 1000 copies/ml preceding data abstraction. Data were analysed using Stata 15.1 software. Results A total of 275 FSWs were included in our study sample. We found low retention of 85.1% (n = 234) at six months, corresponding to LTFU of 14.9 (n...
BackgroundFrequent HIV testing at intervals of every three to six months is recommended among HIV... more BackgroundFrequent HIV testing at intervals of every three to six months is recommended among HIV negative female sex workers as the first entry point to HIV prevention and treatment. In this study, we examined the extent to which HIV negative female sex workers adhere to the testing guidelines by measuring the frequency of testing in the last 12 months and identified associated factors among female sex workers in Kampala Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using structured questionnaires. Using equal probability selection method, 12 hotspots were selected, and 200 participants interviewed based on proportional allocation in each hotspot. We used descriptive statistics to describe female sex workers’ characteristics, and multivariable logistic regression model to determine the factors associated with their adherence to the HIV testing guidelines. Adherence to the HIV testing guidelines was defined as having tested three or more times in the last 12 months. Factors wit...
There is conflicting evidence about the risk of mortality and severe disease due to COVID-19 in p... more There is conflicting evidence about the risk of mortality and severe disease due to COVID-19 in people living with HIV (PLHIV).To compare mortality, hospitalization, and the need for intensive care services due to COVID-19 between PLHIV and individuals without HIV based on data from the existing literature.A comprehensive search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, China Academic Journals Full Text Database, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE) and and the medRXIV and bioRxiv databases of preprints was carried out. Each data source was searched from 1 January 2020 to 20th of February 2021. Eligible studies were case control, cross-sectional and cohort studies where participants had confirmed COVID-19. From each study, data on numbers of PLHIV and individuals without HIV for each outcome were extracted. Study quality was assessed using the MethodologicAl STandard for Epidemiological Research (MASTER) scale. Data synthesis used a bias adjusted model and predefi...
BMC Infectious Diseases
Background Patient retention in care and sustained viral load suppression are a cornerstone to im... more Background Patient retention in care and sustained viral load suppression are a cornerstone to improved health and quality of life, among people living with HIV. However, challenges of retention on ART remain among female sex workers (FSWs). We report lost to follow up (LTFU), viral load suppression, and the associated factors among FSWs that access HIV treatment at primary health care facilities in Kampala. Methods We retrospectively abstracted and analysed patient management data of HIV positive FSWs who enrolled in care between January 2018 to December 2020. LTFU was defined as failure of a FSW to return for treatment at least 90 days from the date of their last clinic appointment. We defined viral suppression as having a last viral load of ≤ 1000 copies/ml preceding data abstraction. Data were analysed using Stata 15.1 software. Results A total of 275 FSWs were included in our study sample. We found low retention of 85.1% (n = 234) at six months, corresponding to LTFU of 14.9 (n...
BackgroundFrequent HIV testing at intervals of every three to six months is recommended among HIV... more BackgroundFrequent HIV testing at intervals of every three to six months is recommended among HIV negative female sex workers as the first entry point to HIV prevention and treatment. In this study, we examined the extent to which HIV negative female sex workers adhere to the testing guidelines by measuring the frequency of testing in the last 12 months and identified associated factors among female sex workers in Kampala Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study using structured questionnaires. Using equal probability selection method, 12 hotspots were selected, and 200 participants interviewed based on proportional allocation in each hotspot. We used descriptive statistics to describe female sex workers’ characteristics, and multivariable logistic regression model to determine the factors associated with their adherence to the HIV testing guidelines. Adherence to the HIV testing guidelines was defined as having tested three or more times in the last 12 months. Factors wit...
There is conflicting evidence about the risk of mortality and severe disease due to COVID-19 in p... more There is conflicting evidence about the risk of mortality and severe disease due to COVID-19 in people living with HIV (PLHIV).To compare mortality, hospitalization, and the need for intensive care services due to COVID-19 between PLHIV and individuals without HIV based on data from the existing literature.A comprehensive search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, China Academic Journals Full Text Database, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE) and and the medRXIV and bioRxiv databases of preprints was carried out. Each data source was searched from 1 January 2020 to 20th of February 2021. Eligible studies were case control, cross-sectional and cohort studies where participants had confirmed COVID-19. From each study, data on numbers of PLHIV and individuals without HIV for each outcome were extracted. Study quality was assessed using the MethodologicAl STandard for Epidemiological Research (MASTER) scale. Data synthesis used a bias adjusted model and predefi...