The effect of universal voluntary HIV counseling and testing on epidemiological, behavioral, and psychosocial outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Despite progress in reducing global HIV-related mortality, the decrease in the rate of HIV incidence remains slow. As such, HIV testing remains crucial to the prevention of HIV and its treatment. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to examine the credibility and strength of evidence arising from systematic reviews of psychosocial, behavioral, and epidemiological outcomes associated with different delivery models of voluntary HIV counseling and testing. DESIGN: Overviews of systematic reviews. METHODS: We conducted the umbrella review by searching PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ProQuest, Scopus, PsycINFO, and the reference lists of relevant reviews. Eligible reviews published in English between 1 January 2000 and 9 February 2021, and different reported models of voluntary HIV counseling and testing were considered. Two independent reviewers assessed the reviews for methodological quality, employing the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist for systematic reviews and research syntheses. Evidence from meta-analyses of observational and interventional studies were graded as conclusive, highly suggestive, suggestive, or weak. The extracted data were tabulated and narratively synthesized. RESULTS: A total of 17 review papers were identified, most of which focused on home-based, community-based, and facility-based voluntary HIV counseling and testing. The most studied epidemiological outcomes include uptake of HIV testing, linkage to care and access to treatment. The most frequently reported behavioral outcomes were safe sexual practices of use of contraceptive and frequency of casual sex, while the most studied psychosocial outcome was social norms. Community-based voluntary HIV counseling and testing approaches achieved high uptake rates, linkage to care, improvement in behavioral outcomes of lower frequency of casual sex, fewer multiple sexual partners, and users experienced fewer stigmatizing behavior through the normalization of HIV testing. Facility-based voluntary HIV counseling and testing was found to be acceptable when offered as part of antenatal care. Using the evidence classification criteria, most of the outcomes were presented with suggestive evidence (Class III). CONCLUSION: The integration of facility-based and home-based voluntary HIV counseling and testing services could potentially increase linkage to care. However, there is scope for further high-quality reviews and meta-analyses to provide greater insights into the impacts of different voluntary HIV counseling and testing models on behavioral and psychosocial outcomes in middle-high-income countries. The provision of a combination of these voluntary HIV counseling and testing models is needed to achieve and surpass the 95-95-95 goals by 2030. REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42020183577).

School-based interventions for the treatment of childhood obesity: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of cluster randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: Schools offer an ideal setting for childhood obesity interventions due to their access to children and adolescents. This review aimed to systematically review the impact of school-based intervention for the treatment of childhood obesity. DESIGN: Eight databases were searched from inception till 30 May 2020. A revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations criteria were used to evaluate the risk of bias and overall evidence. Meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed on Stata software using the random effects model. Overall effect was evaluated using Hedges' g, and heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and I2. SETTING: Cluster randomised controlled trials (cluster-RCT) delivered in school. PARTICIPANTS: Children and adolescents (6-18 years of age) with overweight and obesity. RESULTS: Twelve cluster-RCT from seven countries with 1755 participants were included in the meta-analysis. School-based interventions for the treatment of childhood obesity reduced BMI and BMI z-scores with a medium effect (g = 0·52). Subgroup analyses showed greater effectiveness of brief school-based interventions and the interventions conducted in lower-middle to upper-middle economies. Meta-regression assessed the heterogeneity and the final model, with covariates of the type of economies and trial duration, accounted for 41·2 % of the variability. The overall quality of evidence was rated low because of the high risk of bias and inconsistency. CONCLUSIONS: School-based interventions are a possible approach to provide universal healthcare for the treatment of childhood obesity, and further well-designed cluster-RCT with longer follow-up are needed. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020160735).

Internet-based self-monitoring interventions for overweight and obese adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Internet-based self-monitoring intervention offers accessibleand convenient weight management. This review aimed to systematically review the evidence on the effectiveness of internet-based self-monitoring intervention for overweight and obese adolescents. METHOD: PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ProQuest, PsycINFO and SCOPUS were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from inception until December 13, 2017. The risk of bias and strength of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations criteria. Meta-analysis was performed on the RevMan software using a random effects model. The overall effect was assessed using effect size (Cohen'sd)and heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochrane Q and I2 values. PROSPERO database #CRD42016050089. RESULTS: A total of 6841 records were identified. Six RCTs in 10 articles were selected amongst 505 adolescents across three countries who were overweight and obese. The meta-analysis revealed a small effect on the reduction of body mass index (BMI) and BMI z-scores (d = 0.30, 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.12). Subgroup analyses suggest the use of daily multicomponent self-monitoring, specified goal setting, face-to-face counselling and parental involvement. The overall quality of evidence was low due to the risk of bias and imprecision. CONCLUSION: Internet-based self-monitoring intervention is a possible approach for overweight and obese adolescents to reduce their BMI. Further well-designed RCTs with follow-up data and large sample sizes are needed to ensure the robustness of the evidence.