Background: The HIV/AIDS pandemic remains a significant public health issue, with sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) at its epicentre. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been introduced to decrease new infections and deaths, SSA reports the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS, constituting two-thirds of the global new infections. This review aimed to elucidate the predominant barriers and facilitators influencing ART adherence and to identify effective strategies to enhance ART adherence across SSA. Methods: A comprehensive review was conducted on studies examining barriers to ART adherence and interventions to boost adherence among HIV-positive adults aged 15 and above in SSA, published from January 2010 onwards. The research utilized databases like Medline Ovid, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus. Included were experimental and quasi-experimental studies, randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, comparative before and after studies, and observational studies such as cross-sectional, cohort, prospective and retrospective studies. Two independent reviewers screened the articles, extracted pertinent data, and evaluated the studies’ methodological integrity using Joanna Briggs Institute’s standardized appraisal tools. The compiled data underwent both meta-analysis and narrative synthesis. Results: From an initial pool of 12,538 papers, 45 were selected (30 for narrative synthesis and 15 for meta-analysis). The identified barriers and facilitators to ART adherence were categorized into seven principal factors: patient-related, health system-related, medication-related, stigma, poor mental health, socioeconomic and socio-cultural-related factors. Noteworthy interventions enhancing ART adherence encompassed counselling, incentives, mobile phone short message service (SMS), peer delivered behavioural intervention, community ART delivery intervention, electronic adherence service monitoring device, lay health worker lead group intervention and food assistance. The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in ART adherence between the intervention and control groups (pooled OR = 1.56, 95%CI:1.35–1.80, p = <0.01), with evidence of low none statistically significant heterogeneity between studies (I² = 0%, p = 0.49). Conclusion: ART adherence in SSA is influenced by seven key factors. Multiple interventions, either standalone or combined, have shown effectiveness in enhancing ART adherence. To optimize ART’s impact and mitigate HIV’s prevalence in SSA, stakeholders must consider these barriers, facilitators, and interventions when formulating policies or treatment modalities. For sustained positive ART outcomes, future research should target specific underrepresented groups like HIV-infected children, adolescents, and pregnant women in SSA to further delve into the barriers, facilitators and interventions promoting ART adherence.

Background: In Cameroon, HIV care decentralization is enforced as a national policy, but follow-up of people living with HIV (PLWH) is provider-driven, with little patient education and limited patient participation in clinical surveillance. These types of services can result in low antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and predictors of ART non-adherence among PLWH in Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of PLWH in HIV treatment centres in Cameroon was conducted. Only PLWH, receiving treatment in a treatment centre within the country, who had been on treatment for at least six months and who were at least 21 years old were included in the study. Individuals were interviewed about their demographics and ART experiences. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using STATA version 14. Results: A total of 451 participants participated in this study, 33.48% were from the country’s Southwest region. Their mean age was 43.42 years (SD: 10.42), majority (68.89%) were females. Overall proportion of ART non-adherence among participants was 37.78%, 35.88% missed taking ART twice in the last month. Reasons for missing ART include forgetfulness, business and traveling without drugs. Over half of participants (54.67%) know ART is life-long, 53.88% have missed ART service appointments, 7.32% disbelieve in ART benefits, 28.60% think taking ART gives unwanted HIV Status reminder and 2.00% experienced discrimination seeking ART services. In the multivariate analysis, odds of ART non-adherence in participants aged 41 and above was 0.35 times (95%CI: 0.14, 0.85) that in participants aged 21–30 years, odds of ART non-adherence comparing participants who attained only primary education to those who attained higher than secondary education was 0.57 times (95%CI: 0.33, 0.97) and the odds of ART non-adherence in participants who are nonalcohol consumers was 0.62 times (95%CI: 0.39, 0.98) that in alcohol consumers. Conclusion: High proportion of participants are ART non-adherent, and the factors significantly associated with ART non-adherence include age, education and alcohol consumption. However, some reasons for missing ART are masked in participants’ limited knowledge in taking ART, disbelief in ART benefits, feelings that ART gives unwanted HIV status reminder and experiencing discrimination when seeking ART services. These underscores need to improve staff (health personnel) attitudes, staff-patient-communication, and proper ART prior initiation counselling of patients. Future studies need to focus on assessing long-term ART non-adherence trends and predictors using larger samples in many treatment centres and regions.

Malaria infection during pregnancy is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that gestational and congenital malaria can be prevented by using intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). IPTp-SP is a full therapeutic course of antimalarial medicine administered during pregnancy as a component of antenatal care. This study’s objective was to assess the prevalence and predictors of IPTp-SP uptake in pregnancy in Sierra Leone. This study was based on the fifth round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 5) conducted in Sierra Leone in 2016. Participants were 8526 women aged between 15–49 years. Outcome variables were uptake of IPTp-SP during the last pregnancy. Data were analysed using cross-tabulation and logistic regression methods. Results showed that the prevalence of taking IPTp-SP was 94.81% (92.40, 96.14), and that the prevalence of taking at least three doses was 93.24% (92.50, 94.81). In the multivariate logistic regression, education, parity, and antenatal care (ANC) use were significant predictors of IPTp-SP uptake. Women with higher education had lower odds of taking IPTp-SP (Odds Ratio = 0.647, 95%CI = 0.444, 0.943); having higher parity (>4) was associated with lower odds of taking IPTp-SP (OR = 0.663; 95%CI = 0.442, 0.994) and adequate ANC use increased the odds of taking IPTp-SP in both urban (OR = 1.450, 95%CI = 1.158, 3.128) and rural areas (OR = 1.903, 95%CI = 1.069, 1.966). In contrast, the positive association between ANC visits and adequate doses of taking IPTp-SP was true for rural women only (OR = 1.408, 95%CI = 1.174, 1.689). In conclusion, the use of IPTp-SP is close to being universal, with the prevalence being relatively higher in the rural areas. Based on our findings, promoting adequate antenatal care visits should be regarded as a key strategy to improve the use of IPTp-SP in Sierra Leone. Further studies could focus on exploring other predictors of IPTp-SP uptake that are not captured by MICS in Sierra Leone.

Background: Since May 2022, mpox outbreaks have been occurring in non-mpox endemic areas, with the main population affected being men who have sex with men (MSM). Outbreak prevention and control depend not only on the effectiveness of vaccines but also on people’s willingness to receive these vaccines. Currently, there is lack of synthesis on the overall rates and influence factors of MSMs’ willingness to vaccinate against mpox. Therefore, we systematically reviewed studies that assessed the willingness of MSM to receive mpox vaccine. Methods: Studies reporting mpox vaccination intentions among MSM were included by searching five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, and SCOPUS) from inception to May 12, 2024. The quality of the included literature was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute’s critical appraisal tool. The data analysis software is Stata17. The systematic review has been registered with Prospero (registration ID: CRD42023452357). Results: Twenty cross-sectional studies were included in the review. Meta-analysis results showed that the pooled willingness rate of vaccinate against mpox was 77.0% (95% CI: 73-81%, I² = 99.4%). According to subgroup analysis, study countries (P = 0.002), research sample size (P = 0.001), and whether participants were infected with HIV (P = 0.002) may be sources of heterogeneity. The results of the meta-analysis of influencing factors showed that more number of sexual partners (OR: 2.24, 95%CI: 1.86–2.69), pre-exposure prophylaxis use (OR: 6.04, 95%CI: 4.80–7.61), history of sexually transmitted infections (OR: 2.96, 95%CI: 2.33–3.76), confidence in the vaccine’s effectiveness (OR: 2.79, 95%CI: 2.04–3.80) and safety (OR: 10.89, 95%CI: 5.22–22.72), fear of mpox infection (OR: 2.47, 95%CI: 2.11–2.89) and epidemics (OR: 2.87, 95%CI: 2.22–3.70), high mpox knowledge (OR: 2.35, 95%CI: 1.51–3.66), and the belief that people at high risk should be prioritized for vaccination (OR: 3.09, 95%CI: 1.40–6.84) were the facilitators of vaccine willingness. In addition, as a secondary outcome, meta-analysis results showed a pooled unwillingness rate of 16% (95% CI: 13-20%, I² = 98.1%, 9 studies). Conclusion: Willingness to vaccinate mpox was high among MSM, but some participants still had negative attitudes towards vaccination. Therefore, the Ministry of Public Health should develop targeted and effective strategies against those influencing factors to prevent and manage mpox outbreaks.

Background: The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to be a major public health concern, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite efforts to reduce new infections and deaths with the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), SSA countries continue to bear the heaviest burden of HIV/AIDS globally, accounting for two-thirds of global new infections. The goal of this review is to identify common barriers to ART adherence as well as common effective interventions that can be implemented across SSA countries to improve ART adherence. Methods: A systematic review of published studies on adult HIV-positive patients aged 15 or above, that have assessed the barriers to ART adherence and interventions improving patients’ adherence to ART in SSA countries shall be conducted. We will conduct electronic searches for articles that have been published starting from January 2010 onwards. The databases that shall be searched will include Medline Ovid, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus. The review will include experimental and quasi-experimental studies such as randomized and non-randomized controlled trials as well as comparative before and after studies, and observational studies—cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, prospective and retrospective studies. Two independent reviewers will screen all identified studies, extract data and appraise the methodological quality of the studies using standard critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. The extracted data will be subjected to a meta-analysis and narrative synthesis. Discussion: This review will synthesize existing evidence on ART adherence barriers and strategies for improving patient adherence to ART in SSA countries. It will identify common barriers to adherence and common interventions proven to improve adherence across SSA. We anticipate that the findings of this review will provide information policy makers and stakeholders involved in the fight against HIV, will find useful in deriving better ways of not only retaining patients on treatment but having them adhere to their treatment. Review registration: This protocol has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO); registration number CRD42021262256.

Background Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the healthcare field are crucial in meeting the healthcare needs of a progressively diverse society. In fact, a diverse healthcare workforce enables culturally sensitive care, promotes health equity and enhances the understanding of various needs and patients’ viewpoints, potentially resulting in more effective patient treatment and improved patient outcomes. Despite this, information on the effectiveness of policies or programmes promoting EDI in health institutions is scarce. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the effects and outcomes of EDI programmes in healthcare institutions. Methods We will conduct Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-compliant systematic review of studies on EDI programmes and describe their effects and outcomes in healthcare institutions. We will search PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases. Selected studies will include randomised control trials (RCTs), non-RCTs and cross-sectional studies published either in English or French. Quality appraisal of studies and a narrative synthesis of extracted data will be conducted as well as a meta-analysis if possible. The quality of evidence in this review will be assessed by the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Anticipated results We anticipate that this systematic review will reveal information on the effect of EDI programmes and their outcomes in healthcare institutions. We expect this information will provide insights that will lead to improvements in designing EDI policies and programmes in healthcare institutions. Ethics and dissemination No ethical clearance is required for this study as no primary data will be collected. The final manuscript will be submitted to a journal for publication. In addition to this, the results of the study will also be disseminated through conference presentations to inform the research and clinical practice. Review registration This protocol has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; registration number CRD42024502781.