Characterizing the Development of Research Landscapes in Substance Use and HIV/AIDS During 1990 to 2021

Abstract

Mitigating the impacts of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and substance use requires comprehensive and systematic thinking in designing interventions and developing policies. This study describes the growth of research publications from 1991 to 2021 in the Web of Science database and points out current research landscapes in the fields of HIV/AIDS and substance use. Latent Dirichlet Allocation was used for classifying 21 359 papers into corresponding topics. The most common topics were HIV transmission, HIV infection, quality of life and mental health of substance users, and the biomedical effect of substance use. Emerging research landscapes include vulnerabilities of people who inject drugs to HIV transmission and related health problems. This study found a lack of research on health services, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral in combination with clinical evaluation and treatment services. Future investment and implementation of HIV/AIDS and substance use programs should focus on research of health services and clinical evaluation, especially context-specific interventions.

Effect of HIV and substance use disorder comorbidity on the placenta, fetal and maternal health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

“…23 24 The effect of HIV/AIDS on pregnant women as well as fetal growth is well studied. 25 The problem of substance use disorders and HIV/AIDS in pregnancy is a major public health dilemma requiring better understanding and care models to improve fetal, maternal and neonatal outcomes. 26 There is a lack of research on health services and placental, fetal, maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with HIV/AIDS and substance use disorders globally.…”