HIV prevention and missed opportunities among people with recently acquired HIV infection: A protocol for a systematic review

BackgroundIndividuals who have recently acquired HIV represent a unique population because the time frame since HIV acquisition is relatively short and identification of missed HIV prevention opportunities is, therefore, closer to real time and less subject to recall bias. Identifying prevention measures used and missed opportunities for using them, can help stop further HIV transmission. ObjectivesThis systematic review aims to synthesise current global evidence on uptake of HIV prevention methods among people with recently acquired HIV from 2007, the year that the concept of ART as a prevention method was first introduced. Methods and analysisMEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane and Web of Science databases, will be searched for articles published January 2007 - July 2023. Eligible studies will be those that reported on HIV prevention methods among people with recently acquired HIV. Quality assessment of the studies selected will be undertaken, and reporting of the systematic review will be informed by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. ResultsThe results of the systematic review will be available by the end of January 2024. ConclusionsThe findings will be of key relevance to researchers, healthcare providers including third sector organisations/ community groups and policymakers, as they will offer insight into better understanding of missed or failed HIV prevention efforts and will help ensure future efforts meet the needs of those in need of them.