Imperial College London

Jeff Imai-Eaton

Faculty of MedicineSchool of Public Health

Senior Research Fellow
 
 
 
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jeffrey.eaton

 
 
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UG7Norfolk PlaceSt Mary's Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Publication Type
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155 results found

Michalow J, Jahn A, Cori A, Boily M-C, Chimpandule T, Mbiriyawanda S, Ozituosauka W, Nyirenda R, Imai-Eaton JWet al., 2024, Burden and trends of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections in Malawi from 2000 to 2021: comparative analysis of survey and case report data, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Vol: 51, Pages: 206-213, ISSN: 0148-5717

Background: In settings without aetiologic testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), programmes rely on STI symptom data to inform priorities. To evaluate whether self-reported STI symptoms in household surveys consistently represent the STI burden, we compared symptomatic infection rates between survey self-reporting and health facility case reporting in Malawi.Methods: We analysed self-reported symptoms and treatment seeking in the past year among sexually active adults from four Malawi Demographic and Health Surveys between 2000-2015. Bayesian mixed-effects models were used to estimate temporal trends, spatial variation, and sociodemographic determinants. Survey reporting was compared with health facility syndromic diagnoses between 2014-2021. Results: In surveys, 11.0% (95% CI:10.7-11.4%) of adults reported STI or STI-related symptoms in the last year, of whom 54.2% (52.8-55.7%) sought treatment. In facilities, the mean annual symptomatic case diagnosis rate was 3.3%. Survey-reported treatment in the last year was 3.8% (95% CrI:2.3-6.1%) for genital ulcer, 3.8% (2.0-6.7%) for vaginal discharge, and 2.6% (1.2-4.7%) for urethral discharge. Mean annual diagnosis rates at facilities were 0.5% for genital ulcer, 2.2% for vaginal discharge, and 2.0% for urethral discharge. Both data sources indicated a higher burden of symptoms among women, individuals above 25 years, and in Southern Malawi. Conclusion: Survey and facility case reports indicated similar spatial and demographic patterns of STI symptom burden and care seeking, but implied large differences in the magnitude and relative burden of symptoms, particularly genital ulcer, which could affect programme priorities. Targeted aetiologic surveillance would improve interpretation of these data to enable more comprehensive STI surveillance.

Journal article

Thomas ML, Zuma K, Loykissoonlal D, Dube ZB, Vranken P, Porter SE, Kripke K, Seatlhodi T, Meyer-Rath G, Johnson LF, Imai-Eaton JWet al., 2024, Substantial but spatially heterogeneous progress in male circumcision for HIV prevention in South Africa, Communications Medicine, Vol: 4, ISSN: 2730-664X

BACKGROUND: Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces the risk of male HIV acquisition by 60%. Programmes to provide VMMCs for HIV prevention have been introduced in sub-Saharan African countries with high HIV burden. Traditional circumcision is also a long-standing male coming-of-age ritual, but practices vary considerably across populations. Accurate estimates of circumcision coverage by age, type, and time at subnational levels are required for planning and delivering VMMCs to meet targets and evaluating their impacts on HIV incidence. METHODS: We developed a Bayesian competing risks time-to-event model to produce region-age-time-type specific probabilities and coverage of male circumcision with probabilistic uncertainty. The model jointly synthesises data from household surveys and health system data on the number of VMMCs conducted. We demonstrated the model using data from five household surveys and VMMC programme data to produce estimates of circumcision coverage for 52 districts in South Africa between 2008 and 2019. RESULTS: Nationally, in 2008, 24.1% (95% CI: 23.4-24.8%) of men aged 15-49 were traditionally circumcised and 19.4% (18.9-20.0%) were medically circumcised. Between 2010 and 2019, 4.25 million VMMCs were conducted. Circumcision coverage among men aged 15-49 increased to 64.0% (63.2-64.9%) and medical circumcision coverage to 42% (41.3-43.0%). Circumcision coverage varied widely across districts, ranging from 13.4 to 86.3%. The average age of traditional circumcision ranged between 13 and 19 years, depending on local cultural practices. CONCLUSION: South Africa has made substantial, but heterogeneous, progress towards increasing medical circumcision coverage. Detailed subnational information on coverage and practices can guide programmes to identify unmet need to achieve national and international targets.

Journal article

Glaubius R, Stover J, Johnson LF, Mahiane SG, Mahy MI, Eaton JWet al., 2024, Differences in Breastfeeding Duration by Maternal HIV Status: A Pooled Analysis of Nationally Representative Surveys in Sub-Saharan Africa., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, Vol: 95, Pages: e81-e88

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding improves child survival but is a source of mother-to-child HIV transmission among women with unsuppressed HIV infection. Estimated HIV incidence in children is sensitive to breastfeeding duration among mothers living with HIV (MLHIV). Breastfeeding duration may vary according to maternal HIV status. SETTING: Sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We analyzed pooled data from nationally representative household surveys conducted during 2003-2019 that included HIV testing and elicited breastfeeding practices. We fitted survival models of breastfeeding duration by country, year, and maternal HIV status for 4 sub-Saharan African regions (Eastern, Central, Southern, and Western). RESULTS: Data were obtained from 65 surveys in 31 countries. In 2010, breastfeeding in the first month of life ("initial breastfeeding") among MLHIV ranged from 69.1% (95% credible interval: 68-79.9) in Southern Africa to 93.4% (92.7-98.0) in Western Africa. Median breastfeeding duration among MLHIV was the shortest in Southern Africa at 15.6 (14.2-16.3) months and the longest in Eastern Africa at 22.0 (21.7-22.5) months. By comparison, HIV-negative mothers were more likely to breastfeed initially (91.0%-98.7% across regions) and for longer duration (median 18.3-24.6 months across regions). Initial breastfeeding and median breastfeeding duration decreased during 2005-2015 in most regions and did not increase in any region regardless of maternal HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: MLHIV in sub-Saharan Africa are less likely to breastfeed initially and stop breastfeeding sooner than HIV-negative mothers. Since 2020, UNAIDS-supported HIV estimates have accounted for this shorter breastfeeding exposure among HIV-exposed children. MLHIV need support to enable optimal breastfeeding practices and to adhere to antiretroviral therapy for HIV treatment and prevention of postnatal mother-to-child transmission.

Journal article

Stevens O, Boothe M, Tiberi O, Mahy M, Walker P, Glaubius R, McOwen J, Couto A, Cunha M, Imai-Eaton JWet al., 2024, Triangulation of Routine Antenatal HIV Prevalence Data and Adjusted HIV Estimates in Mozambique., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, Vol: 95, Pages: e70-e80

BACKGROUND: Routine health system data are central to monitoring HIV trends. In Mozambique, the reported number of women receiving antenatal care (ANC) and antiretroviral therapy for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) has exceeded the Spectrum-estimated number of pregnant women since 2017. In some provinces, reported HIV prevalence in pregnant women has declined faster than epidemiologically plausible. We hypothesized that these issues are linked and caused by programmatic overenumeration of HIV-negative pregnant women at ANC. METHODS: We triangulated program-reported ANC client numbers with survey-based fertility estimates and facility birth data adjusted for the proportion of facility births. We used survey-reported ANC attendance to produce adjusted time series of HIV prevalence in pregnant women, adjusted for hypothesized program double counting. We calibrated the Spectrum HIV estimation models to adjusted HIV prevalence data to produce adjusted adult and pediatric HIV estimates. RESULTS: ANC client numbers were not consistent with facility birth data or modeled population estimates indicating ANC data quality issues in all provinces. Adjusted provincial ANC HIV prevalence in 2021 was median 45% [interquartile range 35%-52% or 2.3 percentage points (interquartile range 2.5-3.5)] higher than reported HIV prevalence. In 2021, calibrating to adjusted antenatal HIV prevalence lowered PMTCT coverage to less than 100% in most provinces and increased the modeled number of new child infections by 35%. The adjusted results better reconciled adult and pediatric antiretroviral treatment coverage and antenatal HIV prevalence with regional fertility estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Adjusting HIV prevalence in pregnant women using nationally representative household survey data on ANC attendance produced estimates more consistent with surveillance data. The number of children living with HIV in Mozambique has been substantially underestimated because of biased routine

Journal article

Trickey A, Glaubius R, Pantazis N, Zangerle R, Wittkop L, Vehreschild J, Grabar S, Cavassini M, Teira R, d'Arminio Monforte A, Casabona J, van Sighem A, Jarrin I, Ingle SM, Sterne JAC, Imai-Eaton JW, Johnson LFet al., 2024, Estimation of Improvements in Mortality in Spectrum Among Adults With HIV Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in High-Income Countries., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, Vol: 95, Pages: e89-e96

INTRODUCTION: Mortality rates for people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in high-income countries continue to decline. We compared mortality rates among PLHIV on ART in Europe for 2016-2020 with Spectrum's estimates. METHODS: The AIDS Impact Module in Spectrum is a compartmental HIV epidemic model coupled with a demographic population projection model. We used national Spectrum projections developed for the 2022 HIV estimates round to calculate mortality rates among PLHIV on ART, adjusting to the age/country distribution of PLHIV starting ART from 1996 to 2020 in the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration (ART-CC)'s European cohorts. RESULTS: In the ART-CC, 11,504 of 162,835 PLHIV died. Between 1996-1999 and 2016-2020, AIDS-related mortality in the ART-CC decreased from 8.8 (95% CI: 7.6 to 10.1) to 1.0 (0.9-1.2) and from 5.9 (4.4-8.1) to 1.1 (0.9-1.4) deaths per 1000 person-years among men and women, respectively. Non-AIDS-related mortality decreased from 9.1 (7.9-10.5) to 6.1 (5.8-6.5) and from 7.0 (5.2-9.3) to 4.8 (4.3-5.2) deaths per 1000 person-years among men and women, respectively. Adjusted all-cause mortality rates in Spectrum among men were near ART-CC estimates for 2016-2020 (Spectrum: 7.02-7.47 deaths per 1000 person-years) but approximately 20% lower in women (Spectrum: 4.66-4.70). Adjusted excess mortality rates in Spectrum were 2.5-fold higher in women and 3.1-3.4-fold higher in men in comparison to the ART-CC's AIDS-specific mortality rates. DISCUSSION: Spectrum's all-cause mortality estimates among PLHIV are consistent with age/country-controlled mortality observed in ART-CC, with some underestimation of mortality among women. Comparing results suggest that 60%-70% of excess deaths among PLHIV on ART in Spectrum are from non-AIDS causes.

Journal article

van Schalkwyk C, Mahy M, Johnson LF, Imai-Eaton JWet al., 2024, Updated Data and Methods for the 2023 UNAIDS HIV Estimates., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, Vol: 95, Pages: e1-e4

Each year, supported by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), country teams across the globe produce estimates that chart the state of their HIV epidemics. In 2023, HIV estimates were available for 174 countries, accounting for 99% of the global population, of which teams from 150 countries actively engaged in this process. The methods used to derive these estimates are developed under the guidance of the UNAIDS Reference Group on Estimates, Modeling, and Projections (www.epidem.org). Updates to these methods and epidemiological analyses that inform parameters and assumptions are documented in this supplement.

Journal article

Allorant A, Muset P, Hodgins C, Kirakoya-Samadoulougou F, Namachapa K, Mbofana F, Panagiotoglou D, Johnson LF, Imai-Eaton JW, Maheu-Giroux Met al., 2024, Temporal Trends and Determinants of HIV Testing at Antenatal Care in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Pooled Analysis of Population-Based Surveys (2005-2021)., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, Vol: 95, Pages: e97-e105

BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), integrating HIV testing into antenatal care (ANC) has been crucial toward reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. With the introduction of new testing modalities, we explored temporal trends in HIV testing within and outside of ANC and identified sociodemographic determinants of testing during ANC. METHODS: We analyzed data from 139 nationally representative household surveys conducted between 2005 and 2021, including more than 2.2 million women aged 15-49 years in 41 SSA countries. We extracted data on women's recent HIV testing history (<24 months), by modality (ie, at ANC versus outside of ANC) and sociodemographic variables (ie, age, socioeconomic status, education level, number of births, urban/rural). We used Bayesian generalized linear mixed models to estimate HIV testing coverage and the proportion of those that tested as part of ANC. RESULTS: HIV testing coverage (<24 months) increased substantially between 2005 and 2021 from 8% to 38%, with significant variations between countries and subregions. Two percent of women received an HIV test in the 24 months preceding the survey interview as part of ANC in 2005 and 11% in 2021. Among women who received an HIV test in the 24 months preceding the survey, the probability of testing at ANC was significantly greater for multiparous, adolescent girls, rural women, women in the poorest wealth quintile, and women in West and Central Africa. CONCLUSION: ANC testing remains an important component to achieving high levels of HIV testing coverage and benefits otherwise underserved women, which could prove instrumental to progress toward universal knowledge of HIV status in SSA.

Journal article

Esra R, Mmelesi M, Ketlogetswe AT, Wolock TM, Howes A, Nong T, Matlhaga MT, Ratladi S, Ramaabya D, Imai-Eaton JWet al., 2024, Improved Indicators for Subnational Unmet Antiretroviral Therapy Need in the Health System: Updates to the Naomi Model in 2023., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, Vol: 95, Pages: e24-e33

BACKGROUND: Quantifying subnational need for antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV is challenging because people living with HIV (PLHIV) access health facilities in areas that may differ from their residence. We defined and demonstrated new indicators for PLHIV treatment needed to guide health system target setting and resource allocation. SETTING: Botswana. METHODS: We extended Naomi, a Bayesian small-area model for estimating district-level HIV indicators from national household survey and HIV service delivery data. We used model outputs for ART seeking probabilities in neighboring districts to define the "PLHIV (attending)" indicator representing the estimated number of PLHIV who would seek treatment at health facilities in a district, and "Untreated PLHIV attending" representing gaps in ART service provision. Botswana 2021 district HIV estimates were used to demonstrate new outputs and assess the sensitivity to uncertainty in district population sizes. RESULTS: Across districts of Botswana, estimated adult ART coverage in December 2021 ranged 90%-96%. In the capital city Gaborone, there were 50,400 resident PLHIV and 64,200 receiving ART, of whom 24% (95% CI: 20 to 32) were estimated to reside in neighboring districts. Applying ART attendance probabilities gave a "PLHIV attending" denominator of 68,300 and unmet treatment need of 4100 adults (95% CI: 3000 to 5500) for Gaborone health facilities. The facility-based "PLHIV attending" denominator was less-sensitive to fluctuations in district population size assumptions. CONCLUSIONS: New indicators provided more consistent targets for HIV service provision, but are limited by ART data quality. This challenge will increase as treatment coverage reaches high levels and treatment gaps are smaller.

Journal article

Silhol R, Anderson R, Stevens O, Stannah J, Booton R, Baral S, Dimitrov D, Mitchell K, Donnell D, Bershteyn A, Brown T, Kelly S, Kim H-Y, Johnson L, Maheu-Giroux M, Martin-Hughes R, Mishra S, Peerapatanapokin W, Stone J, Stover J, Teng Y, Vickerman P, Arias Garcia S, Korenromp E, Imai-Eaton J, Boily M-Cet al., 2024, Measuring HIV acquisitions among partners of key populations: estimates from HIV transmission dynamic models, JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Vol: 95, Pages: e59-e69, ISSN: 1525-4135

Background: Key populations (KPs), including female sex workers (FSW), gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and transgender women (TGW) experience disproportionate risks of HIV acquisition. The UNAIDS Global AIDS 2022 Update reported that one-quarter of all new HIV infections occurred among their non-KP sexual partners. However, this fraction relied on heuristics regarding the ratio of new infections that KPs transmitted to their non-KP partners to the new infections acquired among KPs (herein referred to as “infection ratios”). We recalculated these ratios using dynamic transmission models.Setting: 178 settings (106 countries).Methods: Infection ratios for FSW, MSM, PWID, TGW, and clients of FSW were estimated from 12 models for 2020.Results: Median model estimates of infection ratios were 0.7 (interquartile range: 0.5-1.0; n=172 estimates) and 1.2 (0.8-1.8; n=127) for acquisitions from FSW clients and transmissions from FSW to all their non-KP partners, respectively, which were comparable to previous UNAIDS assumptions (0.2-1.5 across regions). Model estimates for female partners of MSM were 0.5 (0.2-0.8; n=20) and 0.3 (0.2-0.4; n=10) for partners of PWID across settings in Eastern and Southern Africa, lower than corresponding UNAIDS assumptions (0.9 and 0.8, respectively). The few available model estimates for TGW were higher (5.1 (1.2-7.0; n=8)) than UNAIDS assumptions (0.1-0.3). Model estimates for non-FSW partners of FSW clients in Western and Central Africa were high (1.7; 1.0-2.3; n=29). Conclusion: Ratios of new infections among non-KP partners relative to KP were high, confirming the importance of better addressing prevention and treatment needs among KP as central to reducing overall HIV incidence.

Journal article

Stevens O, Anderson R, Stover J, Teng Y, Stannah J, Silhol R, Jones H, Booton RD, Martin-Hughes R, Johnson L, Maheu-Giroux M, Mishra S, Stone J, Bershteyn A, Kim H-Y, Sabin K, Mitchell KM, Dimitrov D, Baral S, Donnell D, Korenromp E, Rice B, Hargreaves JR, Vickerman P, Boily M-C, Imai-Eaton JWet al., 2024, Comparison of empirically derived and model-based estimates of key population HIV incidence and the distribution of new infections by population group in sub-Saharan Africa, JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Vol: 95, Pages: e46-e58, ISSN: 1525-4135

BACKGROUND: The distribution of new HIV infections among key populations, including female sex workers (FSWs), gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), and people who inject drugs (PWID) are essential information to guide an HIV response, but data are limited in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We analyzed empirically derived and mathematical model-based estimates of HIV incidence among key populations and compared with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates. METHODS: We estimated HIV incidence among FSW and MSM in SSA by combining meta-analyses of empirical key population HIV incidence relative to the total population incidence with key population size estimates (KPSE) and HIV prevalence. Dynamic HIV transmission model estimates of HIV incidence and percentage of new infections among key populations were extracted from 94 country applications of 9 mathematical models. We compared these with UNAIDS-reported distribution of new infections, implied key population HIV incidence and incidence-to-prevalence ratios. RESULTS: Across SSA, empirical FSW HIV incidence was 8.6-fold (95% confidence interval: 5.7 to 12.9) higher than total population female 15-39 year incidence, and MSM HIV incidence was 41.8-fold (95% confidence interval: 21.9 to 79.6) male 15-29 year incidence. Combined with KPSE, these implied 12% of new HIV infections in 2021 were among FSW and MSM (5% and 7% respectively). In sensitivity analysis varying KPSE proportions within 95% uncertainty range, the proportion of new infections among FSW and MSM was between 9% and 19%. Insufficient data were available to estimate PWID incidence rate ratios. Across 94 models, median proportion of new infections among FSW, MSM, and PWID was 6.4% (interquartile range 3.2%-11.7%), both much lower than the 25% reported by UNAIDS. CONCLUSION: Empirically derived and model-based estimates of HIV incidence confirm dramatically higher HIV risk among key populations in SSA. Estimated proportions of

Journal article

Whittles LK, Galiwango RM, Mpagazi J, Tobian AAR, Ssekubugu R, Jackson J, Peer AD, Kennedy C, Nakalanzi M, Ndyanabo A, Kigozi G, Chang LW, Serwadda D, Manabe YC, Gaydos CA, Laeyendecker O, Quinn TC, Reynolds SJ, Kagaayi J, Eaton JW, Grabowski MKet al., 2023, Age patterns of HSV-2 incidence and prevalence in two Ugandan communities: a catalytic incidence model applied to population-based seroprevalence data, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol: 228, Pages: 1198-1207, ISSN: 0022-1899

Background:Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is an incurable STI associated with increased risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV. HSV-2 prevalence is extremely high in sub-Saharan Africa, but population-level estimates of HSV-2 incidence are sparse. We quantified HSV-2 prevalence, risk-factors for infection, and age-patterns of incidence in south-central Uganda.Methods:We measured HSV-2 prevalence from cross-sectional serological data among men and women aged 18-49 in two communities (fishing/inland). We identified risk-factors for seropositivity, and inferred age-patterns of HSV-2 with a Bayesian catalytic model.Results:HSV-2 prevalence was 53.6% (n = 975/1819, 95%CI 51.3%-55.9%). Prevalence increased with age, was higher in the fishing community, and among women, reaching 93.6% (95%CrI 90.2%-96.6%) by age 49. Factors associated with HSV-2 seropositivity included more lifetime sexual partners, HIV positive status, and lower education. HSV-2 incidence increased steeply in late adolescence, peaking at age 18 for women and 19-20 for men. HIV prevalence was up to ten-fold higher in HSV-2-positive individuals.Conclusions:HSV-2 prevalence and incidence were extremely high, with most infections occurring in late adolescence. Interventions against HSV-2, such as future vaccines or therapeutics, must reach young target populations. Remarkably higher HIV prevalence among HSV-2-positive individuals underscores this population as a priority for HIV prevention.

Journal article

Kuchukhidze S, Panagiotoglou D, Boily M-C, Diabaté S, Imai-Eaton JW, Stöckl H, Mbofana F, Wanyenze RK, Maheu-Giroux Met al., 2023, Characteristics of male perpetrators of intimate partner violence and implications for women's HIV status: a pooled analysis of cohabiting couples from 27 countries in Africa (2000-2020), PLOS Global Public Health, Vol: 3, ISSN: 2767-3375

Intimate partner violence (IPV) may increase women's HIV acquisition risk. Still, knowledge on pathways through which IPV exacerbates HIV burden is emerging. We examined the individual and partnership-level characteristics of male perpetrators of physical and/or sexual IPV and considered their implications for women's HIV status. We pooled individual-level data from nationally representative, cross-sectional surveys in 27 countries in Africa (2000-2020) with information on past-year physical and/or sexual IPV and HIV serology among cohabiting couples (≥15 years). Current partners of women experiencing past-year IPV were assumed to be IPV perpetrators. We used Poisson regression, based on Generalized Estimating Equations, to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) for male partner and partnership-level factors associated with perpetration of IPV, and men's HIV status. We used marginal standardization to estimate the adjusted risk differences (aRD) quantifying the incremental effect of IPV on women's risk of living with HIV, beyond the risk from their partners' HIV status. Models were adjusted for survey fixed effects and potential confounders. In the 48 surveys available from 27 countries (N = 111,659 couples), one-fifth of women reported that their partner had perpetrated IPV in the past year. Men who perpetrated IPV were more likely to be living with HIV (aPR = 1.09; 95%CI: 1.01-1.16). The aRD for living with HIV among women aged 15-24 whose partners were HIV seropositive and perpetrated past-year IPV was 30% (95%CI: 26%-35%), compared to women whose partners were HIV seronegative and did not perpetrate IPV. Compared to the same group, aRD among women whose partner was HIV seropositive without perpetrating IPV was 27% (95%CI: 23%-30%). Men who perpetrated IPV are more likely to be living with HIV. IPV is associated with a slight increase in young women's risk of living with HIV beyond the risk of having an HIV seropositive partner, which suggests the mutually reinforcin

Journal article

Cluver L, Imai-Eaton JW, Sherr L, Mahy M, Flaxman Set al., 2023, Reauthorise PEPFAR to prevent death, orphanhood, and suffering for millions of children, The Lancet, Vol: 402, Pages: 769-770, ISSN: 0140-6736

Journal article

Hargreaves JR, Luba M, Eaton JW, 2023, Malawi HIV progress: persistence and innovation are needed, The Lancet HIV, Vol: 10, Pages: e562-e563, ISSN: 2352-3018

Journal article

Ambia J, Romero-Prieto JE, Kwaro D, Risher K, Khagayi S, Calvert C, Obor D, Tlhajoane M, Odongo F, Marston M, Slaymaker E, Rice B, Kabudula CW, Eaton JW, Reniers Get al., 2023, Comparison of programmatic data from antenatal clinics with population-based HIV prevalence estimates in the era of universal test and treat in western Kenya, PLOS ONE, Vol: 18, ISSN: 1932-6203

Journal article

Howes A, Risher K, Nguyen VK, Stevens O, Jia K, Wolock T, Esra R, Zembe L, Wanyeki I, Mahy M, Benedikt C, Flaxman S, Eaton Jet al., 2023, Spatio-temporal estimates of HIV risk group proportions for adolescent girls and young women across 13 priority countries in sub-Saharan Africa, PLOS Global Public Health, Vol: 3, Pages: 1-14, ISSN: 2767-3375

The Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 identifies adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) as a priority population for HIV prevention, and recommends differentiating intervention portfolios geographically based on local HIV incidence and individual risk behaviours. We estimated prevalence of HIV risk behaviours and associated HIV incidence at health district level among AGYW living in 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We analysed 46 geospatially-referenced national household surveys conducted between 1999-2018 across 13 high HIV burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Female survey respondents aged 15-29 years were classified into four risk groups (not sexually active, cohabiting, non-regular or multiple partner[s] and female sex workers [FSW]) based on reported sexual behaviour. We used a Bayesian spatio-temporal multinomial regression model to estimate the proportion of AGYW in each risk group stratified by district, year, and five-year age group. Using subnational estimates of HIV prevalence and incidence produced by countries with support from UNAIDS, we estimated new HIV infections in each risk group by district and age group. We then assessed the efficiency of prioritising interventions according to risk group. Data consisted of 274,970 female survey respondents aged 15-29. Among women aged 20-29, cohabiting (63.1%) was more common in eastern Africa than non-regular or multiple partner(s) (21.3%), while in southern countries non-regular or multiple partner(s) (58.9%) were more common than cohabiting (23.4%). Risk group proportions varied substantially across age groups (65.9% of total variation explained), countries (20.9%), and between districts within each country (11.3%), but changed little over time (0.9%). Prioritisation based on behavioural risk, in combination with location- and age-based prioritisation, reduced the proportion of population required to be reached in order to find half of all expected new infections from 19.4% to 10.6%. FSW were 1.3% of th

Journal article

Fellows I, Hladik W, Eaton J, Voetsch A, Parekh B, Shiraishi Ret al., 2023, Improving biomarker based HIV incidence estimation in the treatment era, Epidemiology, Vol: 34, Pages: 1-12, ISSN: 1044-3983

Background: Estimating HIV-1 incidence using biomarker assays in cross-sectional surveys is important for understanding the HIV pandemic. However, the utility of these estimates has been limited by uncertainty about what input parameters to use for false recency rate (FRR) and mean duration of recent infection (MDRI) after applying a recent infection testing algorithm (RITA).Methods: This article shows how testing and diagnosis reduce both FRR and mean duration of recent infection compared to a treatment-naive population. A new method is proposed for calculating appropriate context-specific estimates of FRR and mean duration of recent infection. The result of this is a new formula for incidence that depends only on reference FRR and mean duration of recent infection parameters derived in an undiagnosed, treatment-naive, nonelite controller, non-AIDS-progressed population.Results: Applying the methodology to eleven cross-sectional surveys in Africa results in good agreement with previous incidence estimates, except in 2 countries with very high reported testing rates.Conclusions: Incidence estimation equations can be adapted to account for the dynamics of treatment and recent infection testing algorithms. This provides a rigorous mathematical foundation for the application of HIV recency assays in cross-sectional surveys.

Journal article

Wolock TM, Flaxman S, Chimpandule T, Mbiriyawanda S, Jahn A, Nyirenda R, Eaton JWet al., 2023, Subnational HIV incidence trends in Malawi: large, heterogeneous declines across space., medRxiv

The rate of new HIV infections globally has decreased substantially from its peak in the late 1990s, but the epidemic persists and remains highest in many countries in eastern and southern Africa. Previous research hypothesised that, as the epidemic recedes, it will become increasingly concentrated among sub-populations and geographic areas where transmission is the highest and that are least effectively reached by treatment and prevention services. However, empirical data on subnational HIV incidence trends is sparse, and the local transmission rates in the context of effective treatment scale-up are unknown. In this work, we developed a novel Bayesian spatio-temporal epidemic model to estimate adult HIV prevalence, incidence and treatment coverage at the district level in Malawi from 2010 through the end of 2021. We found that HIV incidence decreased in every district of Malawi between 2010 and 2021 but the rate of decline varied by area. National-level treatment coverage more than tripled between 2010 and 2021 and more than doubled in every district. Large increases in treatment coverage were associated with declines in HIV transmission, with 12 districts having incidence-prevalence ratios of 0.03 or less (a previously suggested threshold for epidemic control). Across districts, incidence varied more than HIV prevalence and ART coverage, suggesting that the epidemic is becoming increasingly spatially concentrated. Our results highlight the success of the Malawi HIV treatment programme over the past decade, with large improvements in treatment coverage leading to commensurate declines in incidence. More broadly, we demonstrate the utility of spatially resolved HIV modelling in generalized epidemic settings. By estimating temporal changes in key epidemic indicators at a relatively fine spatial resolution, we were able to directly assess, for the first time, whether the ART scaleup in Malawi resulted in spatial gaps or hotspots. Regular use of this type of analysis

Journal article

Kuchukhidze S, Panagiotoglou D, Boily M-C, Diabaté S, Eaton J, Mbofana F, Sardinha L, Schrubbe L, Stöckl H, Wanyenze RK, Maheu-Giroux Met al., 2023, The effects of intimate partner violence on women’s risk of HIV acquisition and engagement in the HIV treatment and care cascade: a pooled analysis of nationally representative surveys in sub-Saharan Africa, The Lancet HIV, Vol: 10, Pages: e107-e117, ISSN: 2405-4704

Background:Achieving the 95-95-95 targets for HIV diagnosis, treatment, and viral load suppression to end the HIV epidemic hinges on eliminating structural inequalities, including intimate partner violence (IPV). Sub-Saharan Africa has among the highest prevalence of IPV and HIV worldwide. We aimed to examine the effects of IPV on recent HIV infection and women's engagement in the HIV care cascade in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods:We did a retrospective pooled analysis of data from nationally representative, cross-sectional surveys with information on physical or sexual IPV (or both) and HIV testing, from Jan 1, 2000, to Dec 31, 2020. Relevant surveys were identified from data catalogues and previous large-scale reviews, and included the Demographic and Health Survey, the AIDS Indicator Survey, the Population-based HIV Impact Assessment, and the South Africa National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behavior and Communication Survey. Individual-level data on all female respondents who were ever-partnered (currently or formerly married or cohabiting) and aged 15 years or older were included. We used Poisson regression to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for the association between past-year experience of physical or sexual IPV (or both), as the primary exposure, and recent HIV infection (measured with recency assays), as the primary outcome. We also assessed associations of past-year IPV with self-reported HIV testing (also in the past year), and antiretroviral therapy (ART) uptake and viral load suppression at the time of surveying. Models were adjusted for participant age, age at sexual debut (HIV recency analysis), urban or rural residency, partnership status, education, and survey-level fixed effects.Findings:57 surveys with data on self-reported HIV testing and past-year physical or sexual IPV were available from 30 countries, encompassing 280 259 ever-partnered women aged 15–64 years. 59 456 (21·2%) women had experienced phys

Journal article

Laga I, Niu X, Rucinski K, Baral S, Rao A, Chen D, Viswasam N, Phaswana-Mafuya NR, Diouf D, Sabin K, Eaton J, Zhao J, Bao Let al., 2023, Mapping the number of female sex workers in countries across sub- Saharan Africa, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA, Vol: 120, ISSN: 0027-8424

Female sex workers (FSW) are affected by individual, network, and structural risks, making them vulnerable to poor health and well-being. HIV prevention strategies and local community-based programs can rely on estimates of the number of FSW to plan and implement differentiated HIV prevention and treatment services. However, there are limited systematic assessments of the number of FSW in countries across sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate the identification of prevention and treatment gaps. Here we provide estimated population sizes of FSW and the corresponding uncertainties for almost all sub-national areas in sub-Saharan Africa. We first performed a literature review of FSW size estimates and then developed a Bayesian hierarchical model to synthesize these size estimates, resolving competing size estimates in the same area and producing estimates in areas without any data. We estimated that there are 2.5 million (95% uncertainty interval 1.9 to 3.1) FSW aged 15 to 49 in sub-Saharan Africa. This represents a proportion as percent of all women of childbearing age of 1.1% (95% uncertainty interval 0.8 to 1.3%). The analyses further revealed substantial differences between the proportions of FSW among adult females at the sub-national level and studied the relationship between these heterogeneities and many predictors. Ultimately, achieving the vision of no new HIV infections by 2030 necessitates dramatic improvements in our delivery of evidence-based services for sex workers across sub-Saharan Africa.

Journal article

Eilerts H, Romero Prieto J, Ambia J, Khagayi S, Kabudula C, Eaton J, Reniers Get al., 2022, Evaluating pregnancy reporting in Siaya Health and Demographic Surveillance System through record linkage with ANC clinics, International Journal of Population Data Science, Vol: 7, ISSN: 2399-4908

IntroductionHealth and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) are important sources of population health data in sub-Saharan Africa, but the recording of pregnancies, pregnancy outcomes, and early mortality is often incomplete.ObjectiveThis study assessed HDSS pregnancy reporting completeness and identified predictors of unreported pregnancies that likely ended in adverse outcomes.MethodsThe analysis utilized individually-linked HDSS and antenatal care (ANC) data from Siaya, Kenya for pregnancies in 2018-2020. We cross-checked ANC records with HDSS pregnancy registrations and outcomes. Pregnancies observed in the ANC that were missing reports in the HDSS despite a data collection round following the expected delivery date were identified as likely adverse outcomes, and we investigated the characteristics of such individuals. Clinical data were used to investigate the timing of HDSS pregnancy registration relative to care seeking and gestational age, and examine misclassification of miscarriages and stillbirths.ResultsFrom an analytical sample of 2,475 pregnancies observed in the ANC registers, 46% had pregnancy registrations in the HDSS, and 89% had retrospectively reported pregnancy outcomes. 1% of registered pregnancies were missing outcomes, compared to 10% of those lacking registration. Registered pregnancies had higher rates of stillbirth and perinatal mortality than those lacking registration. In 77% of cases, women accessed ANC prior to registering the pregnancy in the HDSS. Half of reported miscarriages were misclassified stillbirths. We identified 141 unreported pregnancies that likely ended in adverse outcomes. Such cases were more common among those who visited ANC clinics during the first trimester, made fewer overall visits, were HIV-positive, and outside of formal union.ConclusionsRecord linkage with ANC clinics revealed pregnancy underreporting in HDSS, resulting in biased measurement of perinatal mortality. Integrating records of ANC usage into rout

Journal article

Nguyen VK, Eaton JW, 2022, A model for reconstructing trends and distribution in age at first sex from multiple household surveys with reporting biases, Epidemics, Vol: 40, Pages: 1-10, ISSN: 1755-4365

Age at first sex (AFS) is a key indicator for monitoring sexual behaviour risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Reporting of AFS data, however, suffers social-desirability and recall biases which obscure AFS trends and inferences from the data. We illustrated AFS reporting biases using data from nationally-representative Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1992 and 2019 in Ethiopia, Guinea, Senegal, and Zambia. Based on this, we proposed a time-to-event, interval censored model for the distribution of AFS that uses overlapping reports by the same birth cohort in successive surveys to adjust for reporting biases. The three-parameter log-skew-logistic distribution described the asymmetric and nonmonotonic hazard exhibited by empirical AFS data. In cross-validation analysis, incorporating a term for reporting bias as a function of age at report improved model predictions for the trend in AFS over birth cohorts. In the four example applications, the quartiles of the AFS distribution were 16 to 23 years for Ethiopian and Senegalese women and 15 to 20 years for Guinean and Zambian men. Median AFS increased by around one to 1.5 years between the 1960 and 1989 birth cohorts for all four datasets. During adolescent and young adult ages, men tended to report an earlier AFS while women tended to report an older AFS than when asked in their late twenties. Above age 30, both male and female respondents tended to report older AFS compared to when surveyed in their late twenties. Simulations validated that the model recovered the trend in AFS in the presence of reporting biases. When there were biases, at least three surveys were needed to obtain reliable estimate for a 20-year trend. Mis-specified reference age at which AFS reporting is assumed unbiased did not affect the trend estimate but resulted in biased median AFS in the most recent birth cohorts.

Journal article

Revill P, Rangaraj A, Makochekanwa A, Mpofu A, Ciaranello AL, Jahn A, Gonani A, Phillips AN, Bershteyn A, Zwizwai B, Nichols BE, Pretorius C, Kerr CC, Carlson C, Ten Brink D, Mudimu E, Kataika E, Lamontagne E, Terris-Prestholt F, Cowan FM, Manthalu G, Oberth G, Mayer-Rath G, Semini I, Taramusi I, Eaton JW, Zhao J, Stover J, Izazola-Licea JA, Kripke K, Johnson L, Bansi-Matharu L, Gorgons M, Morrison M, Chagoma N, Mugurungi O, Stuart RM, Martin-Hughes R, Nyirenda R, Barnabas RV, Mohan S, Kelly SL, Sibandze S, Walker S, Banda S, Braithwaite RS, Chidarikire T, Hallett TB, Kalua T, Apollo T, Cambiano Vet al., 2022, Perspectives on the use of modelling and economic analysis to guide HIV programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, The Lancet HIV, Vol: 9, Pages: e517-e520, ISSN: 2352-3018

HIV modelling and economic analyses have had a prominent role in guiding programmatic responses to HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there has been little reflection on how the HIV modelling field might develop in future. HIV modelling should more routinely align with national government and ministry of health priorities, recognising their legitimate mandates and stewardship responsibilities, for HIV and other wider health programmes. Importance should also be placed on ensuring collaboration between modellers, and that joint approaches to addressing modelling questions, becomes the norm rather than the exception. Such an environment can accelerate translation of modelling analyses into policy formulation because areas where models agree can be prioritised for action, whereas areas over which uncertainty prevails can be slated for additional study, data collection, and analysis. HIV modelling should increasingly be integrated with the modelling of health needs beyond HIV, particularly in allocative efficiency analyses, where focusing on one disease over another might lead to worse health overall. Such integration might also enhance partnership with national governments whose mandates extend beyond HIV. Finally, we see a need for there to be substantial and equitable investment in capacity strengthening within African countries, so that African researchers will increasingly be leading modelling exercises. Building a critical mass of expertise, strengthened through external collaboration and knowledge exchange, should be the ultimate goal.

Journal article

Nguyen VK, Eaton J, 2022, Trends and country-level variation in age at first sex in sub-Saharan Africa among birth cohorts entering adulthood between 1985 and 2020, BMC Public Health, Vol: 22, ISSN: 1471-2458

Background:Debuting sexual intercourse marks exposure to pregnancy or fatherhood and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), sexual debut varies according to cultural, religious, and economic factors, and encouraging delay has been a longstanding component of behavioural HIV prevention strategies. Age at first sex (AFS) is routinely collected in national household surveys, but data are affected by reporting biases, limiting utility to monitor trends and guide sexual health interventions.Methods:We collated individual-level data from nationally-representative household surveys to analyse timing and national trends in AFS in 42 SSA countries. We used a log-skew-logistic distribution to characterize the time to AFS in a Bayesian spatio-temporal model, providing estimates of the sexual debut rate by sex, age, time, and country. We statistically adjusted for reporting biases by comparing AFS reported by the same birth cohorts in multiple survey rounds, allowing different reporting biases by sex and country.Results:Median AFS in 2015 ranged from 15.8 among Angolan women to 25.3 among men in Niger. AFS was younger for women than men in 37/40 countries. The gap was largest for Sahel region countries and minimal in southern African countries. The distribution of female AFS was asymmetric with half debuting sex in an age range of 3.9 years [IQR 3.4–5.0 across countries]. Median AFS increased slightly between 1985 and 2020, ranging 0.84 years [IQR 0.11–1.55] and 0.79 [IQR -0.23–1.98] for females and males, respectively. The gender gap changed little over time in most countries. Female teens often reported higher AFS compared to when asked in their late twenties while male teens reported lower AFS; both sexes recalled a higher AFS in older ages compared to their thirties.Conclusions:AFS increased slightly in most SSA countries, but changes were modest relative to large and persistent variation between c

Journal article

Edun O, Shenderovich Y, Zhou S, Toska E, Okell L, Eaton J, Cluver Let al., 2022, Predictors and consequences of HIV status disclosure to adolescents living with HIV in Eastern Cape, South Africa: a prospective cohort study, Journal of the International AIDS Society, Vol: 25, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 1758-2652

IntroductionThe World Health Organization recommends full disclosure of HIV-positive status to adolescents who acquired HIV perinatally (APHIV) by age 12. However, even among adolescents (aged 10–19) already on antiretroviral therapy (ART), disclosure rates are low. Caregivers often report the child being too young and fear of disclosure worsening adolescents’ mental health as reasons for non-disclosure. We aimed to identify the predictors of disclosure and the association of disclosure with adherence, viral suppression and mental health outcomes among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsAnalyses included three rounds (2014–2018) of data collected among a closed cohort of adolescents living with HIV in Eastern Cape, South Africa. We used logistic regression with respondent random-effects to identify factors associated with disclosure, and assess differences in ART adherence, viral suppression and mental health symptoms between adolescents by disclosure status. We also explored differences in the change in mental health symptoms and adherence between study rounds and disclosure groups with logistic regression.ResultsEight hundred and thirteen APHIV were interviewed at baseline, of whom 769 (94.6%) and 729 (89.7%) were interviewed at the second and third rounds, respectively. The proportion aware of their HIV-positive status increased from 63.1% at the first round to 85.5% by the third round. Older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.27; 1.08–1.48) and living in an urban location (aOR: 2.85; 1.72–4.73) were associated with disclosure between interviews. There was no association between awareness of HIV-positive status and ART adherence, viral suppression or mental health symptoms among all APHIV interviewed. However, among APHIV not aware of their status at baseline, adherence decreased at the second round among those who were disclosed to (N = 131) and increased among those not disclosed to (N = 151) (interaction aOR: 0.39; 0.19&ndash

Journal article

Moorhouse L, Schaefer R, Eaton JW, Dadirai T, Maswera R, Museka T, Mandizvidza P, Dzamatira F, Tsenesa B, Hallett TB, Nyamukapa C, Gregson Set al., 2022, Male partners' influence on adolescent girls and young women's use of combination HIV prevention: insights from analysis of HIV-prevention cascade data collected in a general-population survey in Manicaland, Zimbabwe, AIDS 2022

Conference paper

Telford CT, Tessema Z, Msukwa M, Arons MM, Theu J, Bangara FF, Ernst A, Welty S, OMalley G, Dobbs T, Shanmugam V, Kabaghe A, Dale H, Wadonda-Kabondo N, Gugsa S, Kim A, Bello G, Eaton JW, Jahn A, Nyirenda R, Parekh BS, Shiraishi RW, Kim E, Tobias JL, Curran KG, Payne D, Auld AFet al., 2022, Geospatial transmission hotspots of recent HIV infection — Malawi, October 2019–March 2020, MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol: 71, Pages: 329-334, ISSN: 0149-2195

What is already known about this topic?A novel HIV infection surveillance initiative was implemented in Malawi to collect data on recent HIV infections among new diagnoses to characterize the epidemic and guide the public health response.What is added by this report?Higher proportions of recent infections were identified among females, persons aged <30 years, and clients at maternal and child health and youth clinics. Spatial analysis identified three hotspots of health facilities with significantly higher rates of recent infection than expected across five districts.What are the implications for public health practice?Geospatial analysis of recent HIV infection surveillance data can identify potential transmission hotspots. This information could be used to tailor program activities to strengthen HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services and ultimately interrupt transmission.

Journal article

Hodgins C, Stannah J, Kuchukhidze S, Zembe L, Eaton JW, Boily M-C, Maheu-Giroux Met al., 2022, Population sizes, HIV prevalence, and HIV prevention among men who paid for sex in sub-Saharan Africa (2000-2020): a meta-analysis of 87 population-based surveys, PLoS Medicine, Vol: 19, ISSN: 1549-1277

BACKGROUND: Key populations, including sex workers, are at high risk of HIV acquisition and transmission. Men who pay for sex can contribute to HIV transmission through sexual relationships with both sex workers and their other partners. To characterize the population of men who pay for sex in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), we analyzed population size, HIV prevalence, and use of HIV prevention and treatment. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We performed random-effects meta-analyses of population-based surveys conducted in SSA from 2000 to 2020 with information on paid sex by men. We extracted population size, lifetime number of sexual partners, condom use, HIV prevalence, HIV testing, antiretroviral (ARV) use, and viral load suppression (VLS) among sexually active men. We pooled by regions and time periods, and assessed time trends using meta-regressions. We included 87 surveys, totaling over 368,000 male respondents (15-54 years old), from 35 countries representing 95% of men in SSA. Eight percent (95% CI 6%-10%; number of surveys [Ns] = 87) of sexually active men reported ever paying for sex. Condom use at last paid sex increased over time and was 68% (95% CI 64%-71%; Ns = 61) in surveys conducted from 2010 onwards. Men who paid for sex had higher HIV prevalence (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.50; 95% CI 1.31-1.72; Ns = 52) and were more likely to have ever tested for HIV (PR = 1.14; 95% CI 1.06-1.24; Ns = 81) than men who had not paid for sex. Men living with HIV who paid for sex had similar levels of lifetime HIV testing (PR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.88-1.05; Ns = 18), ARV use (PR = 1.01; 95% CI 0.86-1.18; Ns = 8), and VLS (PR = 1.00; 95% CI 0.86-1.17; Ns = 9) as those living with HIV who did not pay for sex. Study limitations include a reliance on self-report of sensitive behaviors and the small number of surveys with information on ARV use and VLS. CONCLUSIONS: Paying for sex is prevalent, and men who ever paid for sex were 50% more likely to be living with HIV compared to other men in the

Journal article

Nsanzimana S, Rwibasira G, Malamba SS, Musengimana G, Kayirangwa E, Jonnalagadda S, Fazito E, Eaton J, Mugisha V, Remera E, Semakula M, Mulindabigwi A, Omolo FJ, Wiesner L, Moore C, Patel H, Justman Jet al., 2022, HIV incidence and prevalence among adults aged 15-64 years in Rwanda: Results from the Rwanda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (RPHIA) and District-level Modeling, 2019, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol: 116, Pages: 245-254, ISSN: 1201-9712

ObjectivesThe 2018–19 Rwanda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (RPHIA) was conducted to measure national HIV incidence and prevalence. District-level estimates were modeled to inform resources allocation.MethodsRPHIA was a nationally representative cross-sectional household survey. Consenting adults were interviewed and tested for HIV using the national diagnostic algorithm followed by laboratory-based confirmation of HIV status, and testing for viral load (VL), limiting antigen (LAg) avidity and presence of antiretrovirals. Incidence was calculated using normalized optical density ≤ 1•5, VL ≥ 1,000 copies/mL, and undetectable antiretrovirals. Survey and programmatic data were used to model district-level HIV incidence and prevalence.ResultsOf 31,028 eligible adults, 98•7% participated in RPHIA and 934 tested HIV positive. HIV prevalence among adults in Rwanda was 3•0% (95% CI:2•7–3•3). National HIV incidence was 0•08% (95% CI:0•02–0•14) and 0•11% (95% CI:0•00–0•26) in the City of Kigali (CoK). Based on district-level modeling, HIV incidence was greatest in the three CoK districts (0•11% to 0•15%) and varied across other districts (0•03% to 0•10%).ConclusionsHIV prevalence among adults in Rwanda is 3.0%; HIV incidence is low at 0.08%. District-level modeling has identified disproportionately affected urban hotspots: areas to focus resources.

Journal article

Jia K, Eilerts H, Edun O, Lam K, Howes A, Thomas M, Eaton Jet al., 2022, Risk scores for predicting HIV incidence among adult heterosexual populations in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Journal of the International AIDS Society, Vol: 25, ISSN: 1758-2652

Introduction: Several HIV risk scores have been developed to identify individuals for prioritised HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. We systematically reviewed HIV risk scores to: (i) identify factors that consistently predicted incident HIV infection, (ii) review inclusion of community-level HIV risk in predictive models, and (iii) examine predictive performance. Methods: We searched nine databases from inception until February 15, 2021 for studies developing and/or validating HIV risk scores among the heterosexual adult population in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies not prospectively observing seroconversion or recruiting only key populations were excluded. Record screening, data extraction, and critical appraisal were conducted in duplicate. We used random-effects meta-analysis to summarise hazard ratios and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). Results: From 1563 initial search records, we identified 14 risk scores in 13 studies. Seven studies were among sexually active women using contraceptives enrolled in randomised-controlled trials, three among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and three among cohorts enrolling both men and women. Consistently identified HIV prognostic 51 factors among women were younger age (pooled adjusted hazard ratio: 1.62 [95% 52 Confidence Interval: 1.17, 2.23], compared to above-25), single/not cohabiting with primary partners (2.33 [1.73, 3.13]) and having sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at baseline (HSV-2: 1.67 [1.34, 2.09]; curable STIs: 1.45 [1.17; 1.79]). Among AGYW only STIs were consistently associated with higher incidence, but studies were limited (n=3). Community-level HIV prevalence or unsuppressed viral load strongly predicted incidence but were only considered in three of 11 multi-site studies. The AUC-ROC ranged from 0.56 to 0.79 on the model development sets. Only the VOICE score was externally validated by multiple studies, with pooled AUC-ROC 0.626 [0.588, 0.663] (I2: 64.0

Journal article

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