📄 Category

hiv aids

61 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

Impact of violence on HIV outcomes among female sex workers: A global systematic review and meta-analysis

This global systematic review and meta-analysis of 91 studies involving nearly 180,000 female sex workers across 37 countries demonstrates that experiencing violence is significantly associated with higher odds of prevalent HIV infection and reduced odds of ART use and viral suppression, highlighting violence as a critical structural determinant that must be addressed in HIV interventions.

Dawe, J., Mazhar, K. A., Khan, S. A., Njiro, B. J., Bendaud, V., Sabin, K., Ambia, J., Trickey, A., Barrass, L., Asgharz (…)2026-02-27
📄 hiv aids

Utilizing pharmacy refill data to predict loss to follow-up among people living with HIV in Manyara region of Tanzania

This retrospective cohort study in Tanzania's Manyara region demonstrates that pharmacy refill adherence is a strong predictor of loss to follow-up among people living with HIV, revealing significant geographic disparities linked to nomadic lifestyles and highlighting the critical need for unique patient identifiers and mobility-friendly retention strategies to improve care continuity.

Kalulo, M. B., Sangeda, R. Z., Mwakyomo, J., Sangeda, G. R., Sambu, V., Njau, P.2026-02-26
📄 hiv aids

The impact of USAID and CDC funding cuts on HIV incidence and mortality in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

This study models the impact of abrupt USAID and CDC funding cuts in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, revealing that such cessation would significantly increase HIV incidence and mortality by 2030, while restoring funds within 12 months and reallocating them to long-acting PrEP could substantially avert new infections and help realign the province with epidemic control goals.

Shenoi, S. V., Moll, A. P., Yoo, Y. R., Zama, P., George, G., Morojele, N., Mbaya, J., Govender, K., Sunpath, H., Gasa (…)2026-02-22
📄 hiv aids

PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH FALSE NEGATIVE RAPID DIAGNOSTIC HIV TESTS AMONG PATIENTS ON ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY WITH A NON-DETECTABLE VIRAL LOAD IN KAMPALA, UGANDA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

This cross-sectional study conducted in Kampala, Uganda, reveals that approximately 3.2% of patients on antiretroviral therapy with undetectable viral loads yield false-negative results on rapid HIV diagnostic tests, a phenomenon significantly associated with higher CD4 counts and longer duration on treatment, suggesting that serial rapid testing alone may be insufficient for this population.

Nagawa, E., Nakiyingi, L., Kalyango, J., Nuwasiima, S., Bulafu, D., Mukwatamundu, J., Mikka, B., Niwagaba, S., Ndagga, G (…)2026-02-22
📄 hiv aids

Positive Running: a gender-transformative physical activity intervention to overcome intersectional barriers among adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV in India

This mixed-methods study in India demonstrates that while a peer-led running intervention improves mental health for adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV, its effectiveness is significantly hindered for girls by gendered social barriers, highlighting the urgent need for gender-transformative program designs to ensure equitable outcomes.

Sannigrahi, S., Filian, K., Seenappa, B., Sathyamoorthy, H., Reddy, S., Gowda, M., Pushparaj, J., Sanju, R., Papanna, S. (…)2026-02-18
📄 hiv aids

The Impact of 6-Month ART Dispensing (6MMD) on Retention in Malawi's HIV Program: A Target Trial Emulation Study

This target trial emulation study utilizing routine data from Malawi's HIV program demonstrates that six-month antiretroviral therapy dispensing (6MMD) is associated with slightly but significantly higher retention rates at 12 and 24 months compared to shorter dispensing intervals.

Shumba, K., Mokhele, I., Kachingwe, E., Jamieson, L., Fox, M. P., Rosen, S., Tchereni, T., Ngoma, S., Pascoe, S., Huber (…)2026-02-17
📄 hiv aids

Determinants of HIV Testing Uptake Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Mainland Tanzania: A Stratified Analysis of the 2016/17 and 2022/2023 National Surveys

This study analyzes 2016/17 and 2022/23 national survey data to reveal that while HIV testing uptake among young women in mainland Tanzania increased from 86% to 90%, it stagnated at 40% for adolescents, with consistent determinants including union status, higher education, and STI history, underscoring the need for age-specific intervention strategies.

Kinoko, D. W., Kavindi, A. C., Yuda, P., Tibenderana, J. R., Nyaki, A. Y., Msuya, S. E., Mahade, M. J.2026-02-16
📄 hiv aids

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy and drug resistance selection of injectable long-acting lenacapavir pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV

This study utilizes an integrated pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model to demonstrate that twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir achieves sustained protective concentrations against wild-type HIV and specific drug-resistant mutants, while also highlighting the risk of de novo resistance emergence upon discontinuation and the need for strategies to manage PrEP cessation.

Kim, H.-y., Liebenberg, A., Zhang, L., Von Kleist, M.2026-02-06
📄 hiv aids

Comparing modelled HIV incidence estimates with empirical HIV incidence observations in high-burden HIV African epidemic settings: systematic review and meta-regression

This systematic review and meta-regression confirms that mathematical models used by UNAIDS accurately reflect the declining incidence levels and trends observed in population-representative studies across sub-Saharan Africa, though they fail to capture the epidemic's aging pattern and significantly underestimate incidence in non-representative groups such as pregnant women and key populations.

Stevens, O., Moffa, M., Hunt, J. H., Patel, K., Aytenfisu, T., Akullian, A., Anderson, R. L., Bock, P., Gregson, S., Hay (…)2026-02-05