The key design features and effectiveness of social network interventions for HIV testing and linkage services in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

HIV remains a global health challenge with a reported 39 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2022. Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific are home to 82% of PLHIV, where limited access to healthcare resources underscores the urgency of innovative strategies to combat the epidemic effectively. Social network interventions (SNIs) hold promise for improving HIV testing and linkage services by engaging populations at greatest risk. This review evaluates the key design features and effectiveness of SNIs for HIV testing and linkage in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods

We searched four databases (Medline, Embase, Global Health, Web of Science) for the period from 1st January 2003 until 16th June 2023. A combination of the terms "Social Network,"

SUBMITTER: Mukoka M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12031894 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature