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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Mar 1:152:e49.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268824000372.

Post-migration HIV acquisition: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Simran Mann  1 , Zeenathnisa Mougammadou  2 , Jan Wohlfahrt  3 , Rahma Elmahdi  4   5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Post-migration HIV acquisition: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Simran Mann et al. Epidemiol Infect. .

Abstract

Migrants in Europe face a disproportionate burden of HIV infection; however, it remains unclear if this can be prevented through public health interventions in host countries. We undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate post-migration HIV acquisition (PMHA) as a proportion of all HIV cases in European migrants. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, HMIC, and Cochrane Library were searched with terms capturing 'HIV', 'migration', and 'Europe'. Data relating to the proportion of HIV acquired following migration were extracted and random-effects model (REM) meta-analysis was undertaken to calculate a pooled estimate for the proportion of PMHA in European countries. Subgroup meta-analysis was undertaken for PMHA by migrant demographic characteristics and host country. Fifteen articles were included for systematic review following retrieval and screening of 2,320 articles. A total of 47,182 migrants in 11 European countries were included in REM meta-analysis, showing an overall PMHA proportion of 0.30 (95% CI: 0.23-0.38). Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference in PMHA between host country and migrant demographic characteristics. This work illustrates that migrants continue to be at high risk of HIV acquisition in Europe. This indicates the need for targeted screening and HIV prevention interventions, ensuring resources are appropriately directed to combat the spread of HIV.

Keywords: HIV; epidemiology; migrant; migration; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flowchart of process for final inclusion of articles.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Forest plot of individual article and pooled average estimates for PMHA.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Forest plots for individual and pooled average PMHA estimates by host country.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Forest plots for individual and pooled average PMHA estimates by migrant region of origin.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Forest plots for individual and pooled average PMHA estimates by migrant sex.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Forest plots for individual and pooled average PMHA estimates by migrant sexuality.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Forest plots for individual and pooled average PMHA estimates by method of PMHA classification.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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