The Reasons of Late Diagnosis in Patients With HIV/AIDS: A Meta-Synthesis

To comprehensively integrate qualitative findings on the reasons for late diagnosis in HIV/AIDS patients and to encourage timely clinic consultations for advisory purposes.

A qualitative systematic review utilizing a meta-aggregation approach. Extensive searches were conducted across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, ProQuest, Scopus, Medline, CNKI, VIP, Chinese Biomedical, and Wanfang databases. The search was completed on December 10, 2024. Studies were screened according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality assessment was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. The review adhered to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

A total of 13 articles were included, and 113 original findings were extracted and categorized into 13 new categories, which were further synthesized into three integrated findings: (1) lack of proper knowledge about HIV; (2) complex psychological distress and (3) inadequate medical resources and limited services.

This meta-synthesis of qualitative research focused on the reasons for late diagnosis in people living with HIV(PLWH). It is based on an in-depth exploration of patients' personal feelings and experiences, as well as insights into their genuine desires. Patients' lack of disease knowledge may amplify fears, leading to anxiety, depression, and other adverse psychological conditions that reduce their willingness to seek medical care and contribute to late HIV diagnosis. Furthermore, this reduced healthcare-seeking behavior contributes to the underutilization of healthcare resources and impairs system efficiency. Consequently, the risk of late-stage consultation for serious conditions such as AIDS increases. Given these diagnostic challenges, enhancing early detection among PLWH is critical for reducing viral transmission and improving the quality of life of those infected.

The study protocol was registered on the PROSPERO website (CRD42025631287).