Uneven mosquito control knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Malaysia shape sustainable dengue prevention across urban and rural settings.

In the context of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), men are more likely than women to experience numerous treatment intrusions after receiving a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis and starting treatment, leading to poor adherence and retention in care. Adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) is regarded as the willingness of people living with HIV (PLHIV) to be involved in their HIV treatment programme, and to start, manage and maintain a given therapeutic combination medication regimen to control their HIV replication and improve their immune function. The absence of treatment uptake and effective adherence among men has resulted in higher mortality rates than women living with HIV, with contributory factors including poor health-seeking behaviour, low treatment coverage, poor retention and a high rate of loss to follow-up (LTFU). Retention in care depends on successfully connecting, remaining and being actively engaged in HIV care, which is not an all-or-nothing process, as many patients cycle in and out of treatment. Patient retention in care is one of the important indicators of the success of ART programmes, with elevated levels mainly leading to improved adherence to ART, slow progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and increased survival. Moreover, patients who are not in HIV care because of LFTU are likely to develop a high viral load, which is associated with an increased risk of infecting other people, including their partners. Suboptimal healthcare provider practices, including inadequate enhanced adherence counselling (EAC), abuse of patient confidentiality, poor offering of adherence counselling at each visit and drug stock-outs, specifically ART medication, have been demonstrated as significant health systems barriers to adherence among men living with HIV. Mainstreaming ART, as well as improving the hours of service availability in health care settings, can facilitate access and address ‘missed doses’ that are because of travel constraints and migration. Providing specific ‘morning’ and ‘evening’ ART centre hours may reduce work absenteeism and help manage time for men living with HIV, as they will be able to access services at convenience time. Long-distance truck drivers frequently experience difficulties with ART retention, as they are often on the road at the time of their appointments, and have limited access to healthcare facilities during their travels.