A mix of views: Perspectives on pregnant women's participation in maternal vaccine trials.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate perspectives on participation in a Group B Streptococcus (GBS) maternal vaccine trial among pregnant women, their partners, family members, friends and other stakeholders in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: We conducted focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews from October 2022 to February 2023 with 56 participants: 36 pregnant or breastfeeding women, 5 women not in the trial, 5 partners of women in trial, 5 healthcare workers, and 5 community stakeholders. This cross-sectional study was embedded within a GBS maternal vaccine trial conducted at the national referral hospital.

"I have the vaccine in my body": perceptions of female sex workers after enrolling in a phase IIb HIV vaccine and pre-exposure prophylaxis trial in urban Tanzania.

Background: HIV continues to be a significant global public health problem in low and middle-income countries. Efforts to search for an effective and affordable preventative HIV vaccine are on-going. We investigated the understanding of perceived risk for acquiring HIV and the experience of female sex workers (FSW) in Tanzania, before and after enrolling in an HIV vaccine and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Trial.

Using the Community Perception Tracker (CPT) to inform COVID-19 response in Lebanon and Zimbabwe: a qualitative methods evaluation.

Background: Despite the recognized importance of community engagement during disease outbreaks, methods describing how to operationalise engagement are lacking. The Community Perception Tracker (CPT) was designed by Oxfam to systematically record real-time information on disease perceptions and outbreak response actions in order to adapt programmes.

Methods: We conducted a phased, qualitative methods, process evaluation in Zimbabwe and Lebanon to understand whether the CPT approach was a feasible way to incorporate community perceptions into COVID-19 response programming and whether this resulted in more relevant programming.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women concerns during a group B Streptococcus phase ll clinical trial: A qualitative study in Kampala, Uganda.

Despite evidence that maternal vaccines can contribute to reduction of neonatal infections, vaccine hesitancy is a challenge in many low- and middle-income countries like Uganda. We conducted in-depth interviews with pregnant women and focus group discussions with breastfeeding women who were part of a Group B Streptococcus (GBS) clinical trial. We explored the women's concerns about vaccination and their reasons for being hesitant to take vaccines before they joined the trial.

Experiences of community engagement for SARS-COV-2 and COVID-19 community surveillance in a rural and urban population in South Western Uganda.

Background: We describe lessons learnt from community engagement activities for the successful implementation of a COVID-19 community surveillance study in Kalungu district, south-western Uganda.

Methods: One rural and one urban site were selected for COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 community surveillance in selected households and three public health facilities. COVID-19 pandemic and national COVID-19 protection measures were described and explained in meetings with: district, sub-county/town, village council officials, religious leaders, health workers and Community Advisory Board members.

Walking a tightrope: Social support in early adulthood in resource-constrained South Africa.

Supportive social relations are crucial to wellbeing as young adults transition to independence, especially when these transitions are impeded by limited employment and educational opportunities, leading to lengthy 'waithoods'. Yet, there is limited empirical evidence on what young adults' support networks look like in highly resource-constrained settings. We therefore analysed the core support networks of 929 16-29 year-old rural South Africans to explore their social support landscape, using descriptive statistics and multilevel regression models.

Health worker' perceptions of risks, barriers to and facilitators of long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy delivery to women for prevention of vertical transmission programs.

This study examines the perceptions and experiences of health workers and caregivers regarding the delivery of long-acting antiretroviral therapy (LA-ART) in Uganda, especially for preventing vertical transmission of HIV. Using a qualitative implementation research design informed by the Health Belief Model, the researchers conducted 17 key informant interviews with clinicians, nurses, peer mothers, social workers, department heads, and lead researchers across six study centers between May 2022 and September 2023. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim into English language and analyzed thematically using NVivo 14.

Youth-friendly sexual health services and peer support for improved sexual and reproductive health outcomes among adolescents and young adults in South Africa: results of a factorial randomized controlled trial.

Background: Adolescents and young adults in South Africa have high burdens of STIs and unintended pregnancy. We evaluated the impact of peer support and/or expanded sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services on STIs, contraception, and pregnancy in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods: We analyzed secondary outcomes from a 2x2 factorial randomized controlled trial conducted March 2020-August 2022 among 16-29-year-olds, comparing: 1) enhanced Standard of Care (SoC): access to mobile youth-friendly HIV prevention(AYFS); 2) SRH: self-collected STI testing and referral to AYFS with expanded SRH services; 3) Peer-support: peer navigator facilitation of AYFS attendance; 4) SRH + peer-support.

Practice of clean intermittent catheterisation in children with spina bifida: A scoping review.

Background: Spina bifida is a congenital neural tube defect, where there is incomplete formation of the spinal cord and vertebrae, resulting in abnormal development of the neural tube. This affects bladder function and urinary incontinence. Clean Intermittent Catheterization (CIC) is used to manage bladder and bowel management.

HIV PrEP programmes as a framework for diagnosing and treating HBV infection in adolescents and young adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Guidelines for Hepatitis B treatment released by the World Health Organization in 2024 include the potential for use of dual therapy, combining tenofovir with either emtricitabine or lamivudine. These fixed-dose combinations are also used for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in people at risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). We hypothesize that pre-existing HIV PrEP programmes can support access to HBV testing and treatment.

COVID-19 and older people's wellbeing in northern KwaZulu-Natal - the importance of relationships.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the non-pharmacological prevention methods have affected the wellbeing of older people. In this paper we focus on the wellbeing, and vulnerability, of older people in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa during the first year of the pandemic.

Methods: We conducted monthly in-depth interviews for up to four months with 26 people aged 57 years and older.

The unintended outcome: a retrospective cross-sectional study using a urine lateral flow assay to detect ART use reveals non-disclosure of taking ART in South Africa's public health system.

Introduction: Differentiated service delivery (DSD) models for HIV and tuberculosis (TB) care prioritize efficient resource allocation and targeted interventions, and benefit from accurate assessment of patients' antiretroviral therapy (ART) pill-taking status. Accurate ART use identification is essential for ensuring proper care transition services rather than unnecessary initiation. A point-of-care urine tenofovir (TFV) assay may identify undisclosed ART use in settings with high rates of TB and HIV coinfection.

Young men's experiences of violence and poverty and the relationship to sexually transmissible HIV: a cross sectional study from rural South Africa.

Background: Young men are inadequately engaged in HIV prevention and treatment globally, including in South Africa, increasing the likelihood of them having sexually transmissible HIV (i.e. living with HIV but with high viral loads).

Connecting environment, health and livelihoods: how community experiences inform integrated programming in Rukiga District, Uganda.

Introduction: The climate crisis has profound effects on people's lives, particularly those reliant on subsistence agriculture and ecosystem goods for their livelihoods and health. There is growing recognition of the interconnections between human health, environmental degradation and climate change, but little research on the pathways of these interconnections that could inform programme development and little attention given to community experiences and perspectives that provide essential insights into how cross-sector programmes could better address health, livelihoods and environmental needs.

Methods: Between April and June 2021, we conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with residents across eight parishes affected by climate change in Rukiga District, Uganda.

HIV and herpes simplex virus 2 incidence among adolescent girls and young women who sell sex in rural South Africa.

Objective: We investigate the risk of acquiring HIV or herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) among young women who sell sex (YWSS) in rural South Africa.

Design: A representative population-based prospective cohort study of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW).

Methods: Between 2017 and 2019, we interviewed a random sample of AGYW (13-30 years) annually and collected dried blood spot (DBS) samples for HIV and HSV-2 serology.

BREATHER Plus clinical trial design: A randomised non-inferiority trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and acceptability of short cycle (five days on, two days off) dolutegravir/tenofovir-based triple antiretroviral therapy (ART) compared to daily ART in virologically suppressed adolescents living with HIV aged 12 to <20 years in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Novel strategies to improve ART adherence, retention in care and quality of life among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) are needed. Short-Cycle Therapy (SCT) with 4/5 sequential days on ART, 2/3 days off ART per week has shown non-inferior virological outcomes and high acceptability, but most data are in adults and are very limited for dolutegravir (DTG)-based SCT.

Methods: BREATHER Plus is an ongoing 96-week non-inferiority randomised trial evaluating efficacy, safety and acceptability of SCT (5 sequential days on, 2 days off at the weekend) with DTG/tenofovir (TNV)-based triple ART versus continuous (daily) therapy (CT) in ALHIV.

Gender and exposure pathways to zoonotic infections in communities at the interface of wildlife conservation areas of Uganda: A qualitative study.

The changing climate and increasingly frequent environmental shocks are creating new pressures on land use and intensifying inter-species contact that might foster zoonotic disease transmission. In areas where there are complex interactions between wild/domestic animals and humans, preventing and managing zoonotic infections requires an integrated One Health approach based on interdisciplinary and multisectoral collaboration. We used a One Health approach to investigate how potential zoonotic disease exposures might be gendered based on sociocultural norms.

Effects and costs of a multi-component menstrual health intervention (MENISCUS) on mental health problems, educational performance, and menstrual health in Ugandan secondary schools: an open-label, school-based, cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Menstrual health is a human rights issue, affecting many aspects of life including mental health, wellbeing, and education. We assessed the effectiveness and costs of a school-based, multi-component menstrual health intervention (MENISCUS) to improve mental health problems and educational performance among in-school adolescents.

Methods: We conducted a parallel-arm, cluster-randomised trial in secondary schools in Wakiso and Kalungu districts in Uganda.

Examining the resilience of mobile youth in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a qualitative inquiry through the lens of protection and risk.

Background: The last few decades have seen a demographic shift in the age of migrants with more young people involved, especially with regards to internal migration. Socio-economic deprivation, limited resources and adversities contribute to many young people leaving rural areas in low- and middle-income countries in search of a better life in urban settings. This move often requires an adaptation process and resilience to the adversities young people face while still in the challenging developmental life stage of adolescence, exposing them to health and physical risks.

HIV risk perception, trust and PrEP adherence among participants in an HIV prevention trial: a qualitative longitudinal study, South Africa.

Introduction: Ensuring the effectiveness of HIV prevention and treatment methods requires high levels of adherence. Studies have recognised the significance of trust in shaping HIV risk perception.

Aim: In this qualitative analysis, our aim was to explore risk perceptions and understand how individuals assess and respond to HIV risks, as well as their uptake and adherence to oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Experiences and perceptions on antiretroviral therapy adherence and non-adherence: a scoping review of young people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Young people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) shoulder a disproportionate burden of global HIV. We conducted a scoping review to map the research on the experiences and perceptions of young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in SSA to inform future research.

Methods: Following scoping review guidelines, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost including Academic Search Complete, APA PsycInfo, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Medline with Full-text, Scopus and ScienceDirect for papers on YPLHIV adhering and not adhering to ART in SSA.

Creating a Usable and Effective Digital Intervention to Support Men to Test for HIV and Link to Care in A Resource-Constrained Setting: Iterative Design Based on A Person-Based Approach and Human Computer Interaction Methods.

Background: It is challenging to design usable and effective digital health interventions (DHIs). The person-based approach (PBA) has been proposed to incorporate users' perspectives for the design of DHIs. However, it does not explicitly describe the iterative stages of design and evaluation that are essential in moving from early planning to deployment.

Finding knowledge: how youth identify their candidacy and sources of information regarding sexual and reproductive health in rural KwaZulu-Natal. South Africa.

Background: Despite efforts by government, non-governmental organizations, local communities and families, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) behavior and outcomes among adolescents and young adults ("youth") remain of concern in South Africa. Improving outcomes requires better understanding of how youth navigate and engage with potential sources of SRH information, so interventions can align with the contextual landscape.

Methods: We conducted secondary analysis of qualitative data, including interviews and group discussions, from five studies conducted in uMkhanyakude district, KwaZulu-Natal.

"It empowered me to move my timeline forward": first person thematically analysed accounts of a novel behavioural intervention to support status-sharing in young adults with perinatally acquired HIV in UK and Uganda.

Young adults living with perinatally acquired HIV (PAH) face many stressors. Sharing one's status may help with coping with these challenges but there are no rigorously evaluated interventions to support HIV status sharing in this population. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of participants in a novel HIV status-sharing intervention guided by motivational interviewing.

Infecting minds: socio-contextual drivers of vaccine perceptions and attitudes among young and older adults living in urban and rural areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: We investigated how social and contextual factors, including a pandemic, shape vaccine perceptions and attitudes among people living in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. We assessed how participants' views, acceptance, and uptake of vaccines for a range of infectious diseases, may be influenced by experiences and events linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted 30 in-depth face-to-face and telephonic interviews with participants living in diverse rural and urban communities in two districts within KwaZulu-Natal.