Equity in HIV/AIDS services requires optimization of mainstreaming sectors in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS across sectors is crucial to close the disparities in service provision and coverage. However, evidence has shown that certain social groups are left behind in receiving HIV/AIDS services. The objective of this study was twofold: to understand the reasons behind the existing inequities and to explore challenges of equity in HIV/AIDS services in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. METHODS: Twenty-two adults (aged 26-57 years) from eighteen sectors that are mainstreaming HIV and AIDS were purposefully selected until the point of saturation and participated in a semi-structured in-depth interview conducted between January 20 and February 17, 2023. Interviewees were asked to describe their mainstreaming experiences in equitable HIV/AIDS services, reflect on the challenges and barriers that impede equitable service provision, or explain the reasons behind the existence of inequity in HIV/AIDS services. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, translated, and iteratively analysed, with early analysis informing subsequent interviews. An inductive-reflexive thematic analysis was conducted, whereby themes and subthemes were identified, and the relationships between subthemes and patterns were critically reviewed. RESULTS: The challenges to equitable HIV/AIDS service provision were grouped into eight thematic areas: (1) changing contexts that shifts public and government attention to emerging diseases, war and political instability, and poverty; (2) leadership-related, such as the lack of supervision and monitoring, not politicising HIV/AIDS (not providing political attention to HIV/AIDS) and weak intersectoral collaboration; (3) financial constraints due to a random budgeting and contract interruption with non-governmental organisations (NGOs); (4) lack of resources due to scarcity and unfair distribution; (5) inadequate skilled personnel due to inadequate numbers and lack of continuous professional and career development; (6) lack of equity-related evidence-based tools and guidelines; (7) inadequate understanding of equity due to lack of training and misunderstanding, and lack of access to equity-oriented tools and guidelines; and (8) cultural norms, values, and perceptions. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified critical challenges faced in the equitable HIV/AIDS services provision. To achieve equity in HIV/AIDS services, mainstreaming sectors need to invest in mechanisms to sustain services in emergency situations; identify effective leaders to maintain collaboration, monitoring, and evaluation; institutionalise responsive budgeting and establish alternative funds to maintain non-governmental organisations initiatives; provide continuous up-to-date training and create a common evidence-sharing platform; implement proper recruitment, education, and professional development of HIV/AIDS focal persons; and promote and practice culturally safe care. It is, therefore, essential to optimise sectors that are mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and incorporate equity considerations in their strategic plans and working guidelines.

Correction: Universality of universal health coverage: A scoping review.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269507.].

A cross-sectional investigation of the factors associated with awareness of PEP and PrEP among Queensland university students.

OBJECTIVE: University creates unique social environments for many young people that can result in behaviour changes that can impact sexual health-related risks and facilitate transmission of HIV. Little is known about HIV knowledge, risk, and awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis/post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/PEP) among Australian university students. METHODS: A 2019 online survey distributed through Queensland universities, using active recruitment/snowball sampling. Descriptive and logistical regression analysis investigated HIV knowledge/risk and PrEP/PEP awareness. RESULTS: Of the 4,291 responses, 60.4% were 20-29 years old, 57.0% identified as heterosexual, and 31.8% were born-overseas. Mean HIV knowledge score was 9.8/12. HIV risk scores were higher among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) (mean=5.2/40) compared to all other sexual behaviours (mean=3.1/40). Logistic regression indicated PrEP and PEP awareness was associated with older age (p<0.05), being non-binary/gender-diverse (p<0.05), and MSM (p<0.05). Lower odds of PrEP awareness were associated with international student status (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for future health promotion targeting younger Australians at risk of HIV to increase uptake of PrEP/PEP, particularly among overseas-born young people and those ineligible for appropriate health care in Australia. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Addressing these gaps will improve sexual health outcomes for young Australians at risk of HIV and work towards virtual elimination of HIV transmission in Australia.

Socioeconomic inequality in adults undertaking HIV testing over time in Ethiopia based on data from demographic and health surveys.

INTRODUCTION: HIV testing is the entry point to HIV prevention, care and treatment and needs continuous evaluation to understand whether all social groups have accessed services equally. Addressing disparities in HIV testing between social groups results in effective and efficient response against HIV prevention. Despite these benefits, there was no previous study on inequality and determinants over time in Ethiopia. Thus, the objective of this research was to examine socioeconomic inequality in individuals undertaking HIV testing over time, allowing for the identification of persistent and emerging determinants. METHODS: Data sources for the current study were the 2011 and 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys. The 2016 population health survey is the one that Ethiopia used to set national AIDS response strategies; there was no other recent survey with HIV/AIDS-related indicators in Ethiopia. The final sample size for the current study was 28,478 for the year 2011 and 25,542 for the year 2016. The concentration curve and Erreygers' concentration index were used to estimate socioeconomic inequality in HIV testing. Subsequently, decomposition analysis was performed to identify persistent and emerging contributors of socioeconomic inequality. Generalized linear regression model with the logit link function was employed to estimate the marginal effect, elasticity, Erreygers' concentration index (ECI), and absolute and percentage contributions of each covariate. RESULTS: The concentration curve was below the line of equality over time, revealing the pro-rich inequality in HIV testing. The inequality was observed in both 2011 (ECI = 0.200) and 2016 (ECI = 0.213). A household wealth rank had the highest percentage contribution (49.2%) for inequality in HIV testing in 2011, which increased to 61.1% in 2016. Additional markers include listening to the radio (13.4% in 2011 and 12.1% in 2016), education status (8.1% in 2011 and 6.8% in 2016), and resident (-2.0% in 2011 and 6.3% in 2016). Persistent determinants of individuals undertaking HIV testing were age 20-34 years, geographic region, education status, marital status, religion, income, media exposure (listening to the radio, reading newspaper, watching television), knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and attitudes towards people living with HIV. Age between 35 and 44 years and urban residence emerged as new associated factors in 2016. CONCLUSIONS: The higher HIV testing coverage was among individuals with higher socioeconomic status in Ethiopia. Socioeconomic inequality amongst individuals undertaking HIV testing was diverging over time. Household wealth rank, mass media exposure, education status, and resident took the largest share in explaining the disparity in individuals undertaking HIV testing between the lower and higher income groups. Therefore, interventions to equalise HIV testing coverage should take account of these determinants.

Socioeconomic inequality and contributors in accepting attitudes toward people living with HIV among adults in Ethiopia from 2005 to 2016: a population-based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: The public's accepting attitude toward people living with HIV is crucial in reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination, increasing people's access to HIV service. This study examines the inequalities in accepting attitudes toward people living with HIV in Ethiopia from 2005 to 2016. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on the 2005, 2011 and 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys. A total of 17 075, 28 478 and 25 542 adults were included in the 2005, 2011 and 2016 surveys, respectively. Socioeconomic inequality was investigated using the concentration curve and Erreygers' concentration index (ECI), which is scaled from -1 (pro-poor) to +1 (pro-rich). The ECI was decomposed to identify the contributors to socioeconomic inequality using generalised linear regression with the logit link function. RESULTS: Accepting attitude toward people living with HIV was 17.9% (95% CI: 16.6%, 19.3%) in 2005, which increased to 33.5% (95% CI: 31.8%, 35.3%) in 2011 and 39.6% (95% CI: 37.6%, 41.9%) in 2016. ECI was 0.342 (p<0.001), 0.436 (p<0.001) and 0.388 (p<0.001), respectively, for 2005, 2011 and 2016. The trend line illustrates socioeconomic inequality seems diverging over time, with an increasing ECI of 0.005 every year (r=0.53; p=0.642; slope=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The current study found that there was pro-rich inequality from 2005 to 2016. People with higher socioeconomic status had a better attitude toward people living with HIV. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, education status, residence, and access to electronic and paper-based media, as well as HIV testing, contribute to a better accepting attitude toward people living with HIV. It is of utmost importance for the country to enhance accepting attitude toward people living with HIV to reduce stigma and discrimination. This requires whole-system response according to the primary healthcare approach toward ending the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in the country.

Socioeconomic inequality in knowledge about HIV/AIDS over time in Ethiopia: A population-based study.

Socioeconomic inequality in comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS can hinder progress towards ending the epidemic threat of this disease. To address the knowledge gap, it is essential to investigate inequality in HIV/AIDS services. This study aimed to investigate socioeconomic inequality, identify contributors, and analyze the trends in inequality in comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS among adults in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted using 2005, 2011, and 2016 population-based health survey data. The sample size was 18,818 in 2005, 29,264 in 2011, and 27,261 in 2016. Socioeconomic inequality in comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS was quantified by using a concentration curve and index. Subsequently, the decomposition of the concentration index was conducted using generalised linear regression with a logit link function to quantify covariates' contribution to wealth-based inequality. The Erreygers' concentration index was 0.251, 0.239, and 0.201 in 2005, 2011, and 2016, respectively. Watching television (24.2%), household wealth rank (21.4%), ever having been tested for HIV (15.3%), and education status (14.3%) took the significant share of socioeconomic inequality. The percentage contribution of watching television increased from 4.3% in 2005 to 24.2% in 2016. The household wealth rank contribution increased from 14.6% in 2005 to 21.38% in 2016. Education status contribution decreased from 16.2% to 14.3%. The percentage contribution of listening to the radio decreased from 16.9% in 2005 to -2.4% in 2016. The percentage contribution of residence decreased from 7.8% in 2005 to -0.5% in 2016. This study shows comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS was concentrated among individuals with a higher socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic-related inequality in comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS is woven deeply in Ethiopia, though this disparity has been decreased minimally. A combination of individual and public health approaches entangled in a societal system are crucial remedies for the general population and disadvantaged groups. This requires comprehensive interventions according to the primary health care approach.

Potential cost-effectiveness of community availability of tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir for HIV prevention and treatment in east, central, southern, and west Africa: a modelling analysis.

BACKGROUND: Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) offers protection from HIV after condomless sex, but is not widely available in a timely manner in east, central, southern, and west Africa. To inform the potential pilot implementation of such an approach, we modelled the effect and cost-effectiveness of making PEP consisting of tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir (TLD) freely and locally available in communities without prescription, with the aim of enabling PEP use within 24 h of condomless sex. Free community availability of TLD (referred to as community TLD) might also result in some use of TLD as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and as antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV. METHODS: Using an existing individual-based model (HIV Synthesis), we explicitly modelled the potential positive and negative effects of community TLD. Through the sampling of parameter values we created 1000 setting-scenarios, reflecting the uncertainty in assumptions and a range of settings similar to those seen in east, central, southern, and west Africa (with a median HIV prevalence of 14·8% in women and 8·1% in men). For each setting scenario, we considered the effects of community TLD. TLD PEP was assumed to have at least 90% efficacy in preventing HIV infection after condomless sex with a person living with HIV. FINDINGS: The modelled effects of community TLD availability based on an assumed high uptake of TLD resulted in a mean reduction in incidence of 31% (90% range over setting scenarios, 6% increase to 57% decrease) over 20 years, with an HIV incidence reduction over 50 years in 91% of the 1000 setting scenarios, deaths averted in 55% of scenarios, reduction in costs in 92% of scenarios, and disability-adjusted life-years averted in 64% of scenarios with community TLD. Community TLD was cost-effective in 90% of setting scenarios and cost-saving (with disability-adjusted life-years averted) in 58% of scenarios. When only examining setting scenarios in which there was lower uptake of community TLD, community TLD is cost-effective in 92% of setting scenarios. INTERPRETATION: The introduction of community TLD, enabling greater PEP access, is a promising approach to consider further in pilot implementation projects. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the HIV Modelling Consortium.

International Pediatric COVID-19 Severity Over the Course of the Pandemic.

Importance: Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged over the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications for COVID-19 severity in children worldwide are unclear. Objective: To determine whether the dominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) were associated with differences in COVID-19 severity among hospitalized children. Design, Setting, and Participants: Clinical data from hospitalized children and adolescents (younger than 18 years) who were SARS-CoV-2 positive were obtained from 9 countries (Australia, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, and the US) during 3 different time frames. Time frames 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 3 (T3) were defined to represent periods of dominance by the ancestral virus, pre-Omicron VOCs, and Omicron, respectively. Age groups for analysis were younger than 6 months, 6 months to younger than 5 years, and 5 to younger than 18 years. Children with an incidental positive test result for SARS-CoV-2 were excluded. Exposures: SARS-CoV-2 hospitalization during the stipulated time frame. Main Outcomes and Measures: The severity of disease was assessed by admission to intensive care unit (ICU), the need for ventilatory support, or oxygen therapy. Results: Among 31 785 hospitalized children and adolescents, the median age was 4 (IQR 1-12) years and 16 639 were male (52.3%). In children younger than 5 years, across successive SARS-CoV-2 waves, there was a reduction in ICU admission (T3 vs T1: risk ratio [RR], 0.56; 95% CI, 0.42-0.75 [younger than 6 months]; RR, 0.61, 95% CI; 0.47-0.79 [6 months to younger than 5 years]), but not ventilatory support or oxygen therapy. In contrast, ICU admission (T3 vs T1: RR, 0.39, 95% CI, 0.32-0.48), ventilatory support (T3 vs T1: RR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.27-0.51), and oxygen therapy (T3 vs T1: RR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.32-0.70) decreased across SARS-CoV-2 waves in children 5 years to younger than 18 years old. The results were consistent when data were restricted to unvaccinated children. Conclusions and Relevance: This study provides valuable insights into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs on the severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized children across different age groups and countries, suggesting that while ICU admissions decreased across the pandemic in all age groups, ventilatory and oxygen support generally did not decrease over time in children aged younger than 5 years. These findings highlight the importance of considering different pediatric age groups when assessing disease severity in COVID-19.

STI and HIV testing: examining factors that influence uptake among domestic Australian-born, domestic overseas-born and international tertiary students studying in Australia.

OBJECTIVES: Sexual health knowledge among international students in Australia is lower than domestic students, however, little is known about what factors affect the uptake of STI testing, nor if there are differences for overseas-born domestic students. METHODS: We included sexually active respondents from a survey of university students in Australia (N = 3,075). Multivariate regression and mediation analyses investigated associations of STI and HIV testing with STI and HIV knowledge respectively, sexual risk behaviour and demographics, including comparisons among: domestic Australian-born, domestic overseas-born, and international students. RESULTS: STI and HIV knowledge was positively associated with STI and HIV testing respectively (STI OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.16; HIV OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.48). STI knowledge was significantly lower for international than domestic Australian-born students (10.8 vs. 12.2 out of 16), as was STI testing (32% vs. 38%); the difference in knowledge accounted for half the difference in STI testing rates between these two groups. International students from Southern Asia, and Eastern Asia reported the lowest STI testing rates. HIV testing was highest amongst international students from Africa and North America. Higher sexual risk behaviour, younger age, and identifying as gay or bisexual were positively associated with higher STI and HIV testing rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports greater investment and commitment by universities for the provision of sexual health education that can promote access to testing to improve the health of their students.

Human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 and Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma in Queensland, Australia: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), an STI, is reported to be highly prevalent in Indigenous communities in Central Australia. HTLV-1 is an incurable, chronic infection which can cause Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL). ATL is associated with high morbidity and mortality, with limited treatment options. We studied the prevalence of HTLV-1 and ATL in the state of Queensland, Australia. METHODS: Serum samples stored at healthcare services in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns and at haemodialysis units in Brisbane (2018-2019) were screened for HTLV-1/2 antibodies using the Abbott ARCHITECT chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) for antibodies against gp46-I, gp46-II and GD21 (Abbott CMIA, ARCHITECT). Reactive samples were confirmed through Western blot. Pooled Australian National Cancer Registry surveillance data reporting on cases coded for ATL (2004-2015) were analysed. RESULTS: Two out of 2000 hospital and health services samples were confirmed HTLV-1-positive (0.1%, 95% CI 0.02% to 0.4%), both in older women, one Indigenous and one non-Indigenous. All 540 haemodialysis samples tested negative for HTLV. All samples were HTLV-2-negative. Ten out of 42 (24.8%) reported cases of ATL in Australia were from Queensland (crude incidence rate 0.025/100 000; 95% CI 0.011 to 0.045); most cases were seen in adult men of non-Indigenous origin. Nineteen deaths due to ATL were recorded in Australia. CONCLUSION: We confirm that HTLV-1 and ATL were detected in Queensland in Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. These results highlight the need for HTLV-1 prevalence studies in populations at risk of STIs to allow the implementation of focused public health sexual and mother-to-child transmission prevention strategies.

Universality of universal health coverage: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The progress of Universal health coverage (UHC) is measured using tracer indicators of key interventions, which have been implemented in healthcare system. UHC is about population, comprehensive health services and financial coverage for equitable quality services and health outcome. There is dearth of evidence about the extent of the universality of UHC in terms of types of health services, its integrated definition (dimensions) and tracer indicators utilized in the measurement of UHC. Therefore, we mapped the existing literature to assess universality of UHC and summarize the challenges towards UHC. METHODS: The checklist Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews was used. A systematic search was carried out in the Web of Science and PubMed databases. Hand searches were also conducted to find articles from Google Scholar, the World Bank Library, the World Health Organization Library, the United Nations Digital Library Collections, and Google. Article search date was between 20 October 2021 and 12 November 2021 and the most recent update was done on 03 March 2022. Articles on UHC coverage, financial risk protection, quality of care, and inequity were included. The Population, Concept, and Context framework was used to determine the eligibility of research questions. A stepwise approach was used to identify and select relevant studies, conduct data charting, collation and summarization, as well as report results. Simple descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis were used to present the findings. RESULTS: Forty-seven papers were included in the final review. One-fourth of the articles (25.5%) were from the African region and 29.8% were from lower-middle-income countries. More than half of the articles (54.1%) followed a quantitative research approach. Of included articles, coverage was assessed by 53.2% of articles; financial risk protection by 27.7%, inequity by 25.5% and quality by 6.4% of the articles as the main research objectives or mentioned in result section. Most (42.5%) of articles investigated health promotion and 2.1% palliation and rehabilitation services. Policy and healthcare level and cross-cutting barriers of UHC were identified. Financing, leadership/governance, inequity, weak regulation and supervision mechanism, and poverty were most repeated policy level barriers. Poor quality health services and inadequate health workforce were the common barriers from health sector challenges. Lack of common understanding on UHC was frequently mentioned as a cross-cutting barrier. CONCLUSIONS: The review showed that majority of the articles were from the African region. Methodologically, quantitative research design was more frequently used to investigate UHC. Palliation and rehabilitation health care services need attention in the monitoring and evaluation of UHC progress. It is also noteworthy to focus on quality and inequity of health services. The study implies that urgent action on the identified policy, health system and cross-cutting barriers is required to achieve UHC.

Satisfaction of tuberculosis patients to healthcare services at the global level: A systematic review.

Patient satisfaction is a critical component of quality of care assessment in the pursuit of universal health coverage to end the tuberculosis epidemic and other diseases. This study aimed to review the level of satisfaction of tuberculosis patients and related factors. Articles were accessed from Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed and Google Scholar. Twenty-six papers fulfilled the eligibility criteria from 13 countries. The percentage of satisfied tuberculosis patients ranged from 53.5% to 97.0% in the five African countries, 67.8 to 97.2% in India, South-East Asia, 82.0% in Pakistan, East-Mediterranean and 92.9% in Armenia, the European region. Accessibility, healthcare cost, treatment duration and taking supervised-directly observed treatment were healthcare service-related determinants. Technical competency, interpersonal relationships, confidentiality, time spent with healthcare providers, time spent waiting for care and counselling and health education were health worker-related determinants. Patient-related variables that determine satisfaction were gender, age, ethnicity, place of residence, marital status, educational status, income and health status. Developing and/or approaching an internationally-agreed tool to measure tuberculosis patient satisfaction in healthcare settings will improve the availability of high-quality and comparable data to verify actual variation across and within a country. A multidimensional approach considering clients, health workers and healthcare settings is required to holistically address satisfaction issues of tuberculosis patients to gradually realise universal health coverage.

Attributes of national governance for an effective response to public health emergencies: Lessons from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic takes variable shapes and forms in different regions and countries. This variability is explained by several factors, including the governance of the epidemic. We aimed to identify the key attributes of governance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and gain lessons for an effective response to public health emergencies. Methods: We employed a mixed-methods design. We mapped the attributes of governance from well-established governance frameworks. A negative binomial regression was conducted to identify the effect of the established governance measures on the epidemiology of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used publicly available data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in countries around the world. Document review was conducted to identify the key approaches and attributes of governance during the pre-vaccine era of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a thematic analysis to identify key attributes for effective governance. Results: The established governance measures, including generation of intelligence, strategic direction, regulation, partnership, accountability, transparency, rule of law, control of corruption, responsiveness, effectiveness, efficiency, equity, ethics, and inclusiveness, are necessary but not sufficient to effectively respond to and contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional attributes of national governance were identified: 1) agile, adaptive, and transformative governance; 2) collective (collaborative, inclusive, cooperative, accountable, and transparent) governance; 3) multi-level governance; 4) smart and ethical governance: sensible, pragmatic, evidence-based, political, learner, and ethical. Conclusions: The current governance frameworks and their attributes are not adequate to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. We argue that countries need agile, adaptable, and transformational, collaborative, multi-level, smart and ethical governance to effectively respond to emerging and re-emerging public health threats. In addition, an effective response to public health emergencies depends not only on national governance but also on global governance. Hence, global health governance should be urgently renewed through a paradigm shift towards universal health coverage and health security to all populations and in all countries. This requires enhanced and consistent global health diplomacy based on knowledge, solidarity, and negotiation.

Analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons towards a more effective response to public health emergencies.

BACKGROUND: The pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a timely reminder of the nature and impact of Public Health Emergencies of International Concern. As of 12 January 2022, there were over 314 million cases and over 5.5 million deaths notified since the start of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic takes variable shapes and forms, in terms of cases and deaths, in different regions and countries of the world. The objective of this study is to analyse the variable expression of COVID-19 pandemic so that lessons can be learned towards an effective public health emergency response. METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods study to understand the heterogeneity of cases and deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Correlation analysis and scatter plot were employed for the quantitative data. We used Spearman's correlation analysis to determine relationship strength between cases and deaths and socio-economic and health systems. We organized qualitative information from the literature and conducted a thematic analysis to recognize patterns of cases and deaths and explain the findings from the quantitative data. RESULTS: We have found that regions and countries with high human development index have higher cases and deaths per million population due to COVID-19. This is due to international connectedness and mobility of their population related to trade and tourism, and their vulnerability related to older populations and higher rates of non-communicable diseases. We have also identified that the burden of the pandemic is also variable among high- and middle-income countries due to differences in the governance of the pandemic, fragmentation of health systems, and socio-economic inequities. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates that every country remains vulnerable to public health emergencies. The aspiration towards a healthier and safer society requires that countries develop and implement a coherent and context-specific national strategy, improve governance of public health emergencies, build the capacity of their (public) health systems, minimize fragmentation, and tackle upstream structural issues, including socio-economic inequities. This is possible through a primary health care approach, which ensures provision of universal and equitable promotive, preventive and curative services, through whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches.

Universal Health Coverage for Antiretroviral Treatment: A Review.

Universal health coverage is essential for the progress to end threats of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic. The current review assesses the publication rate, strategies and barriers for antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, equity, quality of care, and financial protection. We searched Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Of the available articles, 43.13% were on ART coverage, 40.28% were on financial protection, 10.43% were on quality of care, and 6.16% were on equity. A lack of ART, fear of unwanted disclosure, lack of transportation, unaffordable health care costs, long waiting time to receive care, and poverty were barriers to ART coverage. Catastrophic health care costs were higher among individuals who were living in rural settings, walked greater distances to reach health care institutions, had a lower socioeconomic status, and were immunocompromised. There were challenges to the provision of quality of care, including health care providers' inadequate salary, high workload and inadequate health workforce, inappropriate infrastructure, lack of training opportunities, unclear division of responsibility, and the presence of strict auditing. In conclusion, ART coverage was below the global average, and key populations were disproportionally less covered with ART in most countries. Huge catastrophic health expenditures were observed. UHC contexts of ART will be improved by reaching people with poor socioeconomic status, delivering appropriate services, establishing a proper health workforce and service stewardship.

Online HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) Dissemination by an Australian Community Peer HIV Organisation: A Scalable Way to Increase Access to Testing, Particularly for Suboptimal Testers.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) introduces opportunities for screening in non-conventional settings, and addresses known testing barriers. This study involved the development and evaluation of a free online HIVST dissemination service hosted by a peer-led, community-based organisation with on-site, peer-facilitated HIV testing, and established referral and support programs for people newly diagnosed with HIV to determine whether this model was feasible and acceptable for engaging MSM, particularly among infrequent and naive HIV-testers, or those living in remote and rural areas. Between December 2016 and April 2018, 927 kits were ordered by 794 individuals, the majority of whom were men who have sex with men (MSM) (62%; 494), having condomless sex (50%; 392), or living outside a major city (38%; 305). Very few (5%; 39) sought the available pre-test peer contact, despite 45% (353) being naive HIV-testers. This study demonstrates that online HIVST dissemination is acceptable and feasible for engaging at-risk suboptimal testers, including those unwilling to test elsewhere (19%; 47/225). With half (50%; 403) unwilling to buy a kit, our study suggests that HIVST will need to be subsidized (cost-neutral to users) to enhance population coverage and access.

STI and HIV knowledge and testing: a comparison of domestic Australian-born, domestic overseas-born and international university students in Australia.

University students usually consist of young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and a group recognised as being at increased risk of STI. This study found lower levels of STI knowledge and STI testing among international students and to a lesser extent, domestic overseas-born students, compared with domestic Australian-born students. International students exhibited lower risk sexual behaviour but were more likely to have had a HIV test than domestic students. This diversity in sexual health knowledge, sexual health services utilisation and sexual experience indicates the need for a variety of public health approaches to improve sexual health.

Factors associated with pyomyositis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Pyomyositis, an acute bacterial infection of skeletal muscle usually resulting in abscess formation, is well recognised in tropical regions where it can account for up to 4% of adult surgical admissions. It is increasingly being reported from high-income temperate countries. Pyomyositis occurs across all ages and in both sexes. Mortality ranges from 1% to 23%. Many risk factors have been suggested. We aimed to identify factors associated with pyomyositis. METHODS: We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis, using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochran Library and hand-searching published papers. The random-effects model meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled estimated odd ratios with the corresponding 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: All studies in the systematic review (n = 25) and the meta-analysis (n = 12) were hospital-based. Seven only included children. Relatively few studies have been published in the last decade, the majority of which are from high-income temperate settings. Staphylococcus aureus was the main organism isolated. Males under the age of 20 predominated, and mortality of up to 20% was reported. Factors associated with pyomyositis were HIV infection (OR = 4.82; 95% CI: 1.67-13.92) and fulfilling an AIDS surveillance definition (OR = 6.08; 95% CI: 2.79-13.23). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis indicated significant associations between pyomyositis infection and HIV/AIDS. Major gaps in our understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and outcome remain, highlighting the need for further research and more systematic studies. Pyomyositis merits consideration as a neglected tropical disease.

Economic evaluation of alternative testing regimes and settings to detect undiagnosed HIV in Australia.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to estimate the comparative costs per positive diagnosis of previously undetected HIV in three testing regimes: conventional; parallel and point of care (POC) testing. The regimes are analysed in six testing settings in Australia where infection is concentrated but with low prevalence. METHODS: A cost model was developed to highlight the trade-offs between test and economic efficiency from a provider perspective. First, an estimate of the number of tests needed to find a true (previously undiagnosed) positive diagnosis was made. Second, estimates of the average cost per positive diagnosis in whole of population (WoP) and men who have sex with men (MSM) was made, then third, aggregated to the total cost for diagnosis of all undetected infections. RESULTS: Parallel testing is as effective as conventional testing, but more economically efficient. POC testing provide two significant advantages over conventional testing: they screen out negatives effectively at comparatively lower cost and, with confirmatory testing of reactive results, there is no loss in efficiency. The average and total costs per detection in WoP are prohibitive, except for Home Self Testing. The diagnosis in MSM is cost effective in all settings, but especially using Home Self Testing when the individual assumes the cost of testing. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates the trade-offs between economic and test efficiency and their interactions with population(s) prevalence. The efficient testing regimes and settings are presently under or not funded in Australia. Home Self Testing has the potential to dramatically increase testing rates at very little cost.