ArticleBMJ open2026
Peer network approaches for improving HIV testing, prevention and care utilisation among men in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review.
Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Observational
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionLimited male engagement in HIV prevention and care is a global challenge more pronounced in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) contributing to ongoing transmission. However, peer network interventions show promise in improving engagement.
objectiveTo map and synthesise evidence on peer network interventions for HIV prevention and care among men in SSA, with a focus on the types of strategies used, populations reached and how these interventions address cultural, social and structural barriers across the HIV care cascade.
designScoping review of peer-reviewed literature, conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.
settingCommunity and facility-based HIV prevention and care settings across multiple countries in SSA.
participantsPopulations included men having sex with men, men in key occupational groups (fishermen, truck drivers), adolescents and young people, and men living with HIV. Studies not conducted in SSA, not peer-reviewed or not focused on male peer networks were excluded.
interventionsPeer network interventions included peer education, peer navigation, HIV self-testing (HIVST) distribution, adherence support groups, disclosure and stigma-reduction counselling, technology-enabled peer support (SMS and social media) and community-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) delivery. Intervention duration and intensity varied across studies. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes included HIV testing uptake, linkage to care, ART initiation, adherence, retention in care and viral suppression. Secondary outcomes included stigma reduction, disclosure and engagement among hard-to-reach male populations.
methodsWe conducted a review of literature published between November 2013 and November 2024, searching PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane databases. Studies were included if they examined peer network approaches in HIV prevention and care among men in SSA.
resultsA total of 905 records were identified, of which 75 studies met the inclusion criteria. Peer network interventions were implemented across diverse SSA contexts and male populations. Strategies such as peer-led education, social diffusion models, HIVST distribution and technology-enabled peer support consistently improved HIV testing uptake, linkage to care, ART initiation and adherence. Contextually tailored interventions such as community-based outreach addressing occupational risk environments and economic vulnerabilities were particularly effective in engaging men traditionally underserved by facility-based services. However, challenges persisted, including variable linkage to care following HIVST and sensitivity to user costs.
conclusionsPeer-led interventions in HIV care for men in SSA effectively address cultural, social and structural barriers, improving testing, ART adherence and viral suppression. Tailored, technology-enhanced and community-based approaches ensure equitable HIV prevention and treatment outcomes, despite challenges like linkage to care.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.