Follow-Up Survey of the Impact of COVID-19 on People Living with HIV during the Second Semester of the Pandemic

Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Edlaine Faria de Moura Villela, Stijn Van Hees, Pieter Vanholder, Patrick Reyntiens and Robert Colebunders
Additional contact information
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Edlaine Faria de Moura Villela: Disease Control Coordination, State Health Department, São Paulo 01246000, Brazil
Stijn Van Hees: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Pieter Vanholder: European AIDS Treatment Group, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Patrick Reyntiens: Sensoa, Flemish Expertise Centre for Sexual Health, 2060 Antwerp, Belgium
Robert Colebunders: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: COVID-19 affects persons living with HIV (PLWH) both directly (via morbidity/mortality) and indirectly (via disruption of HIV care). From July–November 2020, an online survey was conducted to investigate the psychosocial well-being of PLWH and changes in HIV care during the second semester of the COVID-19 outbreak. Data were collected on the socio-demographic characteristics of PLWH, their psychosocial well-being, impact of COVID-19 preventive measures on their daily routines and HIV follow-up. Of the 247 responses analyzed (mean age: 44.5 ± 13.2 years; 73.7% male), 67 (27.1%) and 69 (27.9%) respondents screened positive for anxiety (GAD-2 score ? 3) and depression (PHQ-2 score ? 3), respectively. HIV care had returned to pre-COVID-19 state for 48.6% PLWH, and 108 (43.7%) had no HIV follow-up during the past month. Over three quarters (76.1%) of respondents expressed willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Compared to previous findings in April 2020, substance use increased from 58.6% to 67.2% ( p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that the well-being and medical follow-up of PLWH are still affected after almost a year into the COVID-19 outbreak. Remote HIV follow-up (telemedicine) with psychosocial support should be envisaged in the medium to long-term. Given that most PLWH accept COVID-19 vaccination, they may be prioritized for this intervention.

Keywords: persons living with HIV; HIV care; COVID-19; PHQ-2; GAD-2; vaccination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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