Climate change and HIV are interconnected epidemics that increase vulnerability in people living with HIV (PLWH), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite their public health significance, research on the synergistic effects of these epidemics on the health of PLWH is limited. The advancement of non-invasive wearable technology offers an opportunity to leverage objective health data for large-scale research, addressing this knowledge gap. This study will examine the impact of weather events on distinct health variables of PLWH within the Siaya Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in rural Kenya.

Over a period of 6 months, we continuously monitored health parameters of a total of 200 participants including heart rate, activity and sleep, using consumer-grade wearable devices. We will correlate these health data with real-time weather parameters (ambient temperature, wet bulb globe temperature, precipitation level) from five weather stations within the HDSS area and compare between HIV-positive participants and an HIV-negative control group. Additionally, a convergent mixed-methods approach will explore participants’ perceptions of the impact of weather events on their health and personal experiences. The study aims to inform future research on the complex relationship between HIV and weather events, which are projected to increase in frequency in this region due to climate change and provide valuable insights for policymakers to develop effective measures to protect this vulnerable population amid the growing climate crisis.

This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committees at Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi (approved on 23 October 2023; SERU 4826) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany (approved on 14 February 2023; S-824/2022). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrolment, with data anonymised and handled according to Kenyan and German data protection regulations. Research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and presented at scientific conferences.

To assess HIV testing and status disclosure rates and explore their associated predictors among young adolescents (10–17 years) who received health education through the Orphans and Vulnerable Children programme in Nimule, South Sudan.

A pre–post evaluation study with data collected at baseline (December 2020) and at the endline (December 2022).

The study was conducted in Nimule, a densely populated periurban town characterised by high HIV prevalence and substantial cross-border movement between Uganda and South Sudan, making it a relevant setting for an HIV prevention project.

The primary intervention was HIV risk education delivered through forty peer-led health clubs. Adolescents were screened for HIV risk factors and referred for HIV and other sexually transmitted infection testing at health facilities.

The study included young adolescents aged 10–17 years recruited from HIV-affected households within 17 neighbourhoods in Nimule periurban town. Informed consent was obtained from both caregivers and adolescents.

The primary outcome was self-reported HIV testing and status disclosure. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between the study outcome variables and associated sociodemographic factors.

A total of 557 (73.0%) of the 768 enrolled adolescents were surveyed at baseline and endline, including 301 (54.0%) females and 276 (46.0%) males. The median age was 14 years (IQR: 11–16) at baseline and 15 years (IQR: 12–17) at endline.

HIV testing increased from 315 (56.7%) at baseline to 557 (100%). The odds of undisclosed HIV status were 49% lower at endline adjusted OR (aOR) 0.51 (95% CI 0.92, 0.67; p

Male gender and being cared for by siblings or other relatives were strong predictors of lower HIV testing and status disclosure. These findings underscore the importance of targeting efforts towards this category of adolescents in postconflict and resource-limited settings like South Sudan while leveraging peer-led HIV education interventions in conflict-affected settings.