📄 Category

hiv aids

65 papers

HIV/AIDS research remains a critical frontier in global health, focusing on everything from understanding how the virus interacts with the human immune system to developing new treatments and vaccines. This field is constantly evolving, with scientists working tirelessly to improve patient outcomes and move closer to a functional cure. Because these discoveries happen rapidly, staying updated with the latest findings is essential for both experts and the public.

At Gist.Science, we bridge the gap between complex research and clear understanding by processing every new preprint in this category directly from medRxiv. We transform these dense scientific documents into both plain-language explanations and detailed technical summaries, ensuring that the latest insights into HIV and AIDS are accessible to everyone. Below are the most recent papers we have analyzed, offering a fresh look at the ongoing fight against the virus.

📄 hiv aids

Hazardous Alcohol Use, Sexual Behavior, and Incident HIV across 11 Eastern and Southern African Countries

A secondary analysis of 16 nationally representative surveys across 11 Eastern and Southern African countries reveals that hazardous alcohol use is significantly associated with high-risk sexual behaviors and increased odds of undiagnosed HIV infection among both men and women, suggesting that integrating HIV prevention strategies for individuals who drink alcohol could substantially reduce new infections in the region.

Reed, D. M., Johnson, L. F., Keyes, K., Knight, J., Imai-Eaton, J. W. W.2026-03-31
📄 hiv aids

Retention to Care and Viral Load Suppression: Insights from Young People Receiving HIV Treatment at Mpilo Centre of Excellence in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

This mixed-methods study of 110 HIV-positive youths at Mpilo Centre of Excellence in Zimbabwe identifies that younger age, male sex, adherence challenges, insufficient clinical and social support, and low self-efficacy are significant barriers to viral load suppression, highlighting the urgent need for tailored, youth-friendly interventions to improve retention in care.

Dube, P. S., Nyathi, S., Tshuma, N. I., Ngwenya, S., Masiya, M., Moyo, D., Maruba, C., Dube, F., Makwanya, L., Yekeye, R (…)2026-03-30
📄 hiv aids

A Plasma Proteomic Ageing Clock Reflects Advanced Ageing in People with Untreated HIV and its Reduction Under Antiretroviral Therapy

This longitudinal study demonstrates that untreated HIV infection drives accelerated proteomic ageing, which is significantly reversed and decelerated upon the initiation of suppressive antiretroviral therapy, highlighting the critical importance of minimizing the duration of untreated infection.

Ryan, B., Ait Oumelloul, M., Rouached, S., Juillerat, A. D., Giacchetto, L., Thorball, C. W., Schoepf, I. C., Arribas, J (…)2026-03-26
📄 hiv aids

Using Synthesised Narrative Exploration to generate contextually grounded insights for HIV prevention, testing and care programming in Mozambique

This paper demonstrates how the Synthesised Narrative Exploration (SNE) approach, which integrates existing literature with local qualitative validation, efficiently generated contextually grounded insights on barriers and strategies for HIV prevention and care among women and children in Mozambique to inform more effective programming.

Baatsen, P., Madede, T., Okere, N., Tromp, N., Luntamo, M.2026-03-25
📄 hiv aids

Association of baseline advanced HIV disease and dolutegravir versus non-dolutegravir regimen status with viral load suppression among patients on antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania

In a retrospective cohort study of Tanzanian patients on antiretroviral therapy, dolutegravir-based regimens were associated with improved viral load suppression overall, with a particularly significant relative benefit observed among patients presenting with baseline advanced HIV disease.

Dani, H. A., Njau, P., Sangeda, R. Z.2026-03-23
📄 hiv aids

Comparative 48-Week Viral Load Suppression across Antiretroviral Initiation Regimens: Dolutegravir versus Non-Dolutegravir among People Living with HIV in Tanzania

A retrospective analysis of routine HIV programme data in Tanzania involving nearly 7,000 patients demonstrates that antiretroviral therapy initiation with dolutegravir-based regimens results in significantly higher 48-week viral load suppression rates (91.7%) compared to non-dolutegravir regimens (86.7%).

Kayange, G. F., Sangeda, R. Z., Njau, P.2026-03-23
📄 hiv aids

Gaps in HIV testing for children of mothers with known HIV positive status: Results from Population-based HIV Impact Assessments (PHIA) in Sub-Saharan Africa (2015-2019)

An analysis of 13 Population-based HIV Impact Assessments in Sub-Saharan Africa (2015–2019) reveals that over 40% of children born to mothers aware of their HIV-positive status had never been tested, highlighting critical gaps in pediatric diagnosis and treatment linkage despite high confirmation rates among known cases.

Nyabiage, L., Gachau, S., Jonnalagadda, S., Lulseged, S., Kayira, D., Kabaghe, A. N., Kutara, I., Nsanzimana, S., Mugish (…)2026-03-23
📄 hiv aids

Trends in frequency of HIV viral load and CD4 cell count monitoring among Asian cohort of adults with HIV: an analysis of the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database, 2003-2018

This study analyzing the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database from 2003 to 2018 reveals that while viral load testing rates remained stable, CD4 testing frequency declined over time, with both monitoring patterns significantly influenced by demographic, clinical, and socio-economic factors, though neither was strongly associated with AIDS diagnosis and frequent CD4 testing was paradoxically linked to higher mortality risk.

PASAYAN, M. K., Jiamsakul, A., Yunihastuti, E., Azwa, I., Choi, J. Y., Kumarasamy, N., Avihingsanon, A., Chaiwarith, R. (…)2026-03-23
📄 hiv aids

Accounting for barriers to HIV infection in the recipient partner reveals frequent transient infections and explains transmission risk under viral suppression

By integrating mathematical modeling with epidemiological and phylogenetic data, this study identifies three biological mechanisms—rare permissive conditions, stage-dependent infection establishment, and target cell limitation—that explain HIV transmission dynamics, revealing frequent transient infections and providing a mechanistic basis for the negligible transmission risk observed under viral suppression.

Atkins, K. E., Antal, T., Thompson, R. N., Lythgoe, K., Regoes, R. R., Hue, S., Villabona-Arenas, C. J.2026-03-23
📄 hiv aids

Prevalence and correlates of HIV among children born to HIV-negative mothers in Zambia: a secondary analysis of the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey

This secondary analysis of the 2024 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey reveals that approximately 0.5% of children born to HIV-negative mothers are HIV-positive, with significantly higher prevalence observed in urban areas, wealthier households, and Copperbelt Province, underscoring critical gaps in current prevention strategies that extend beyond vertical transmission.

Chalwe, C., Munkombwe, P., Mulenga, B.2026-03-22