Evaluation of Community Health Worker Programmes for HIV Prevention Among High-Risk Groups in Southern Sudan: A Systematic Literature Review

Community health worker (CHW) programmes have been implemented in various settings to address HIV prevention among high-risk groups. In Southern Sudan, CHWs play a crucial role in reducing HIV prevalence and improving public health outcomes. A comprehensive search strategy was employed using electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they focused on CHWs' roles in preventing HIV transmission among specific at-risk populations. Data extraction and synthesis were performed following PRISMA guidelines. The review identified a consistent pattern of positive outcomes associated with CHW programmes, particularly in terms of increased condom use (70% adherence rate) among high-risk groups compared to baseline levels. CHW programmes appear effective in promoting HIV prevention behaviors among high-risk populations. However, variability exists across studies regarding programme implementation and impact measures. Future research should focus on evaluating CHWs' roles beyond condom use, such as addressing stigma reduction, improving access to healthcare services, and enhancing community engagement strategies. Treatment effect was estimated with logit(pᵢ)=β₀+β^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.