HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa: new study methods, results, and implications for prevention and care

McFarland, Willi; Abu‐Raddad, Laith J.; Mahfoud, Ziyad; DeJong, Jocelyn; Riedner, Gabriele; Forsyth, Andrew D.; Khoshnood, Kaveh

doi:10.1097/01.aids.0000386728.49059.92

Cited by 29 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Briefly, we searched PubMed, Embase, the World Health Organization (WHO) Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region and WHO African Index Medicus without publication date or language restrictions, using text and MeSH/Emtree terms exploded to include all subheadings. Our review covered the 23 countries included in the MENA definitions of the WHO/EMRO, World Bank, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for consistency with earlier regional analyses of various infectious diseases including HIV [23]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dengue in the Middle East and North Africa: A Systematic Review

et al. 2016

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BackgroundDengue virus (DENV) infection is widespread and its disease burden has increased in past decades. However, little is known about the epidemiology of dengue in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).Methodology / Principal FindingsFollowing Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and reporting our findings following PRISMA guidelines, we systematically reviewed available records across MENA describing dengue occurrence in humans (prevalence studies, incidence studies, and outbreak reports), occurrence of suitable vectors (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), and DENV vector infection rates. We identified 105 human prevalence measures in 13 of 24 MENA countries; 81 outbreaks reported from 9 countries from 1941–2015; and reports of Ae. aegypti and/or Ae. albopictus occurrence in 15 countries. The majority of seroprevalence studies were reported from the Red Sea region and Pakistan, with multiple studies indicating >20% DENV seroprevalence in general populations (median 25%, range 0–62%) in these subregions. Fifty percent of these studies were conducted prior to 1990. Multiple studies utilized assays susceptible to serologic cross-reactions and 5% of seroprevalence studies utilized viral neutralization testing. There was considerable heterogeneity in study design and outbreak reporting, as well as variability in subregional study coverage, study populations, and laboratory methods used for diagnosis.Conclusions / SignificanceDENV seroprevalence in the MENA is high among some populations in the Red Sea region and Pakistan, while recent outbreaks in these subregions suggest increasing incidence of DENV which may be driven by a variety of ecologic and social factors. However, there is insufficient study coverage to draw conclusions about Aedes or DENV presence in multiple MENA countries. These findings illustrate the epidemiology of DENV in the MENA while revealing priorities for DENV surveillance and Aedes control.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dengue in the Middle East and North Africa: A Systematic Review

et al. 2016

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“…24,25 There is a wide perception that the socio-cultural and political sensitivities associated with HIV research in the MENA as well as structural-level HIV-related stigma, may restrict access to HIV-related data and create barriers in conducting HIV research in the region. 26 …”

Section: Social and Political Will For A Change: Easier Said Than Donementioning

confidence: 99%

“…1,8,30 Regardless, such international investments have, indeed, led to improvements in the quality of HIV research by training national experts on state-of-the-art approaches for community-based HIV surveillance surveys among key populations (eg, respondent driven sampling approaches) and hence resulted in an increase in the improved visibility of HIV research from the MENA in high impact peer-reviewed journals. 7,26 Nonetheless, despite the increasing body of evidence on HIV research in the MENA since 2005, it is still limited (ie, less than 2% of the global HIV literature) and several findings are unpublished, and large databases remain unanalyzed and inaccessible. 7,29 …”

Section: Social and Political Will For A Change: Easier Said Than Donementioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the Quality and Quantity of HIV Data in the Middle East and North Africa: Key Challenges and Ways Forward

Karamouzian

Madani

Doroudi

et al. 2016

Int J Health Policy Manag

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Although the HIV pandemic is witnessing a decline in the number of new infections in most regions of the world, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has a rapidly growing HIV problem. While generating HIV data has been consistently increasing since 2005, MENA’s contribution to the global HIV literature is just over 1% and the existing evidence often falls behind the academic standards. Several factors could be at play that contribute to the limited quantity and quality of HIV data in MENA. This editorial tries to explore and explain the barriers to collecting high-quality HIV data and generating precise estimates in MENA. These barriers include a number of logistic and socio-political challenges faced by researchers, public health officials, and policy-makers. Looking at successful regional HIV programs, we explore examples were policies have shifted and lessons could be learned in developing appropriate responses to HIV across the region.

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“…Data on the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remain scarce due to its limited research capacity and sociocultural sensitivity around sexually transmitted infections (STIs) 1 2. This challenge is further compounded by methodological limitations in available studies and by the logistical difficulty in conducting STI studies among women 2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence ofChlamydia trachomatisinfection in the general population of women in Qatar

et al. 2013

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ObjectivesThe Arabian Gulf region has limited epidemiological data related to sexually transmitted infections. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among general population women in Doha, Qatar.MethodsEndocervical swabs were collected from healthy women attending primary healthcare centres in Doha, June–December 2008. The specimens were tested for C trachomatis by a commercially available PCR-based assay. Data on basic socio-demographic characteristics, medical history and sexual behaviour were obtained using self-administered questionnaires. The prevalence of C trachomatis and of background variables were stratified by nationality, Qatari nationals versus non-Qatari residents.ResultsA total of 377 women were enrolled in the study, out of whom 351 (37.9% Qataris, 62.1% non-Qataris) were tested for the presence of C trachomatis in their specimens. The mean age of participants was 41.2 years, and the vast majority (93%, 95% CI 90.3 to 95.7) were married. The mean age at sexual debut was significantly lower among Qatari women compared with non-Qatari women (19.2 vs 22.2 years, respectively p<0.001), but the mean number of reported lifetime sexual partners (1.1 partner) was nearly the same in both groups (p=0.110). The prevalence of C trachomatis infection was 5.3% among Qatari women and 5.5% among non-Qatari women, with no statistically significant difference between both groups (p=0.923).ConclusionsThe prevalence of C trachomatis among women was higher than expected, with no significant difference between Qatari nationals and expatriate residents. The higher prevalence may reflect, in part, the limited access to and use of chlamydia screening and management.

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HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa: new study methods, results, and implications for prevention and care

Cited by 29 publications

References 12 publications

Dengue in the Middle East and North Africa: A Systematic Review

Dengue in the Middle East and North Africa: A Systematic Review

Improving the Quality and Quantity of HIV Data in the Middle East and North Africa: Key Challenges and Ways Forward

Prevalence ofChlamydia trachomatisinfection in the general population of women in Qatar

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