Prevalence of HIV and Syphilis and their Co-infection among Men Having Sex with Men in Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Studies found that the group of men who have sex with men (MSM) is at a very high level of risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Asian regions due to multiple reasons. Although the prevalence of HIV among general people in Asia is considered low, the prevalence of HIV and Syphilis among MSM in this region was found very high and usually, it goes unnoticed. This study aimed to inspect the prevalence and trends of HIV, Syphilis, and their co-infection among MSM in Asia. Methods: A systematic search was performed on January 5, 2021, in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases. To evaluate the heterogeneity, Q-tests and were used. To explore the publication bias, Eggers' test and funnel plot were used. The random-effect model and subgroup analysis were performed due to the significant heterogeneity. Results: A total of 2,872 articles were identified, and 66 articles of high quality were included in the final analysis. The overall prevalence of HIV among MSM and Syphilis was estimated considering 69 estimates from 66 studies whereas 19 estimates of co-infection were found in 17 studies. The pooled HIV prevalence was 8.48% (CI: 7.01-9.95) and the pooled Syphilis prevalence was 9.86% (CI: 8.30-11.41) with significant heterogeneity and publication bias. The pooled prevalence of HIV and Syphilis co-infection was 2.99% (CI: 1.70-4.27) with significant heterogeneity and no publication bias. The HIV, Syphilis, and HIV and Syphilis co-infection prevalence estimates exhibited an upward trend during 2002-2017. Conclusions: HIV, Syphilis, and their co-infection are quite prevalent among MSM in the Asia-Pacific region. Integrated and intensified intervention strategies, HIV testing, and improved access to antiretroviral treatment as well as increased awareness are needed to reduce HIV, Syphilis, and their co-infection among the discussed vulnerable group.

Role of Gray Matter in Depression and Ways to Overcome Depression Using Appropriate Medications and Psychological Therapy

“…It's a leading problem that affects an individual's quality of life (3). Females are more likely to suffer from depression(4).…”

“…But the limitation of this approach is that doses of the drugs used should be monitored accurately. (2,3,7)…”

Mobile opportunity against stress: Open study protocol on the effectiveness of a mobile platform for stress self-management in the post-pandemic era

“…Moreover, they are expected to adhere to preventive measures and restrictions for extended periods, to reduce the risk of contracting the infection. Healthcare workers also deserve special attention as a potential vulnerable population (Naushad et al, 2019;Brooks et al, 2020;Mahmud et al, 2021) as during the Covid-19 pandemic they have had to cope with an increasing workload, fear of infection, contagion and transmission to their families, frustration, highly challenging decisions, guilt and bereavement, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, physical exhaustion, and inadequate personal equipment (Elbay et al, 2020;Holmes et al, 2020;Krystal, 2020;Lasalvia et al, 2021). These experiences have impacted their mental health leading to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress (Kisely et al, 2020;Pappa et al, 2020;De Kock et al, 2021;Mahmud et al, 2021).…”

“…Healthcare workers also deserve special attention as a potential vulnerable population (Naushad et al, 2019;Brooks et al, 2020;Mahmud et al, 2021) as during the Covid-19 pandemic they have had to cope with an increasing workload, fear of infection, contagion and transmission to their families, frustration, highly challenging decisions, guilt and bereavement, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, physical exhaustion, and inadequate personal equipment (Elbay et al, 2020;Holmes et al, 2020;Krystal, 2020;Lasalvia et al, 2021). These experiences have impacted their mental health leading to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress (Kisely et al, 2020;Pappa et al, 2020;De Kock et al, 2021;Mahmud et al, 2021). In fact, when assessed with psychiatric diagnostic interviews during the pandemic, health care workers reported a prevalence of 14.3% for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 13.7% for Depression, and 7.9% for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).…”

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“…A lack of understanding about tuberculosis and old misconceptions are linked to delays in case detection and treatment for TB [15,17]. The widespread prejudice towards TB/HIV patients, misapprehension of transmission of TB and other infectious diseases, and poor knowledge about treatment of infectious diseases are the serious restrictions in achieving millennium development goals related to TB and other infectious diseases [18][19][20].…”