Khuthadzo Eshily Hlongwane

Peri-natal HIV Research Unit · Statistics

Aim We compared soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR), serum ferritin, mean cell volume (MCV) of red cells and the sTfR-ferritin index with the intensive method bone marrow trephine (BMT) iron stores in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in HIV-positive hospitalised participants. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we recruited hospi...

Female sex workers (FSWs) in South Africa experience a uniquely high prevalence of HIV. We describe the HIV cascade of care (CoC) in FSWs in South Africa, and explored service utilisation at sex work programmes. A cross-sectional, study enrolled FSWs across 12 sites in South Africa. Participants were recruited using chain-referral method. Inclusion...

Background Although numerous studies have investigated HIV risk factors and shown high HIV prevalence among female sex workers in South Africa, no national HIV incidence estimate exists for this potentially important group for HIV transmission. We aimed to estimate HIV incidence among female sex workers in South Africa who could be accessed through...

Coetzee (2022): Sex work and young women: a cross sectional study to understand the overlap of age and sex work as a central tenet to ABSTRACT Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) engaging in sex-for-money transactions are at risk of HIV infection. A better understanding of the demographic, socioeconomic factors and risks of HIV acquisition is r...

Background: Assessment of sexual risk behavior among youths is crucial for HIV prevention strategies. However, the literature on sexual behavior in youth during the COVID-19 pandemic is sparse. Aim: This study surveyed sexual risk behavior among youth in Soweto, South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic national lockdown in 2020. Methods: We c...

Introduction Sex workers in South Africa experience high levels of trauma and mental health issues, but little is known about their drug and alcohol use. This study assessed the prevalence of substance use and its key risk factors amongst female sex workers (FSWs) at two sites in South Africa. Methods Two cross-sectional studies were conducted, in...

Female sex workers (FSWs) are at increased risk of mental health problems, including mood disorders and substance abuse, and we need to understand the origins of these to treat and prevent them, and particularly understand how the context in which they sell sex impacts their mental health. We conducted a multi-stage, community-centric, cross-sectio...

Background The ubiquity of cellular phone (cellphone) use in young people’s daily lives has emerged as a priority area of concern for youth mental health. Objective This study measured the prevalence of depression and its association with high cellphone use among youth in Soweto and Durban, South Africa. Methods We analysed cross-sectional, basel...

Background: In South Africa, female sex workers (FSWs) are perceived to play a pivotal role in the country’s HIV epidemic. Understanding their health status and risk factors for adverse health outcomes is foundational for developing evidence-based health care for this population. Objective: Describe the methodology used to successfully implement...

Background South Africa is disproportionately impacted by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and HIV/AIDS. We investigated the prevalence of known/unknown NCD risk factors, HIV, and NCD risk factor-HIV comorbidity; and treatment status on known diseases to determine the prevalence of controlled/uncontrolled disease. Methods This cross-sectional stud...

Background Globally female sex workers (FSWs) are vulnerable to violence from intimate partners, police and clients due to stigma and criminalisation. In this paper we describe South African FSWs' exposure to violence and factors associated with having been raped in the past year. Methods We conducted a multi-stage, community-centric, cross-sectio...

Objective A screening centre in Soweto, South Africa (SA), investigated high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), HIV, cervical cancer risk amongst women. Methods This cross-sectional study (June 2018-March 2019) describes screening results (Roche Linear Array HPV test and Pap smear liquid based cytology) and history of screening (known HIV status,...

South Africa is the HIV epidemic epicentre; however, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will be the most common cause of death by 2030. To improve identification and initiation of care for HIV and NCDs, we assessed proportion of clients referred and linked to care (LTC) for abnormal/positive screening results and time to LTC and treatment initiation...

Introduction South Africa is the HIV epidemic epicentre; however, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will be the most common cause of death by 2030. To improve identification and initiation of care for HIV and NCDs, we assessed proportion of clients referred and linked to care (LTC) for abnormal/positive screening results and time to LTC and treatmen...

Background: While HIV Testing Services (HTS) have increased, many South Africans have not been tested. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the top cause of death worldwide. Integrated NCD-HTS could be a strategy to control both epidemics. Healthcare service strategies depends partially on positive user experience. We investigated client satisfact...

Purpose The HIV infection may predispose perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV+) adolescents to mental illness. Adolescence can be when mental health disorders manifest for the first time. This study investigates the prevalence of mental illness in PHIV+ and HIV-uninfected adolescents in Soweto. Methods PHIV+ adolescents aged 13–19 years were recruited f...

Background: While HIV Testing Services (HTS) have increased, many South Africans have not been tested. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the top cause of death worldwide. Integrated NCD-HTS could be a strategy to control both epidemics. Healthcare service strategies depends partially on positive user experience. We investigated client satisfacti...

Background: The Integrated Chronic Disease Management (ICDM) model has been implemented in South Africa to enhance quality of clinical services in Primary Healthcare (PHC) clinics in a context of a high prevalence of chronic conditions and multi-morbidity. This study aimed to assess the implementation fidelity (adherence to guidelines) of the ICDM...

Objectives This cross-sectional study investigated the burden of HIV-non-communicable disease (NCD) precursor comorbidity by age and sex. Policies stress integrated HIV-NCD screenings; however, NCD screening is poorly implemented in South African HIV testing services (HTS). Setting Walk-in HTS Centre in Soweto, South Africa. Participants 325 volu...

Background The Integrated Chronic Disease Management (ICDM) model has been implemented in South Africa to enhance quality of clinical services in Primary Healthcare (PHC) clinics in a context of a high prevalence of chronic conditions and multi-morbidity. This study aimed to assess the implementation fidelity (adherence to guidelines) of the ICDM m...

Background The Integrated Chronic Disease Management (ICDM) model has been implemented in South Africa to enhance efficiency and quality of clinical services in Primary Healthcare (PHC) clinics in a context of a high prevalence of chronic conditions and multi-morbidity. This study aimed to assess implementation fidelity (adherence to guidelines) of...

Background: HIV diagnosis is a critical step in linking HIV-infected individuals to care and treatment and linking HIV-uninfected persons to prevention services. However, the uptake of HIV testing remains low in many countries. HIV self-screening (HIVSS) is acceptable to adults, but there is limited data on HIVSS feasibility in community programme...

While HIV transmission dynamics among female sex workers (FMSWs) in South Africa (SA) have been studied extensively, data on male clients of sex workers (MCSWs) are sparse. We describe HIV prevalence, sexual risk behaviour, violence exposure and perpetration amongst MCSWs.

Background Clinical trials have clearly shown a reduction in HIV acquisition through voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC). However, data assessing risk compensation under programmatic conditions is limited. Methods This was a prospective cohort of HIV seronegative males aged 18–40 years receiving VMMC between November 2012 and July 2014. HIV...

Objectives The use of tobacco by youth constitutes a major public health problem globally as well as in South Africa. Early onset of smoking increases the risk of contracting a wide range of potentially fatal diseases. Therefore, the aim was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of tobacco smoking in youth. Methods Cross-sectional study across...

Despite public health intervention, exposure to secondhand smoke, specifically in the home, remains high. Secondhand smoke has been linked to several health outcomes however there is limited information on how secondhand smoke impacts on severity of smoking.

Background Despite public health intervention, exposure to secondhand smoke, specifically in the home, remains high. Secondhand smoke has been linked to several health outcomes however there is limited information on how secondhand smoke impacts on severity of smoking. Methods We report interim results of a cross-sectional study among young men (1...

First and second hand smoking remains high despite the implementation of public health interventions. South African men have a three times higher prevalence of ever having smoked tobacco than women. Smoking is considered as a major risk factor for many non-communicable diseases, and communicable diseases and accounts for a high number of life-years...