The evolving challenges confronting adults living with HIV in three North African countries during the COVID-19 crisis: a survey-based study.
Awareness
COVID-19
Challenges
Delivery of care
HIV
Preventive measures
Journal
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
ISSN: 1878-3503
Titre abrégé: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7506129
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
02 05 2022
02 05 2022
Historique:
received:
01
07
2021
revised:
21
09
2021
accepted:
28
09
2021
pubmed:
23
10
2021
medline:
10
5
2022
entrez:
22
10
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a huge burden on healthcare systems, especially on programs for chronic illnesses such as HIV. We aimed to assess the challenges confronting adult people living with HIV (PLHIV) in three countries in North Africa during the COVID-19 crisis and their awareness of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical preventive measures. This online survey included PLHIV aged ≥18 y from three countries in North Africa recruited by a snowball sampling technique, who were asked to complete a modified questionnaire originally developed by the University of Antwerp in Belgium, which was then disseminated through social media tools to assess the study outcomes. Out of 369 respondents, 260 (70.5%) were males and 237 (64.2%) were aged 18-39 y. Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, wearing facemasks (308 [83.2%]), applying hand-sanitizers (299 [80.8%]) and following cough etiquette (261 [70.5%]), were predominantly reported. Only 48 (13%) were vaccinated against influenza. One hundred and forty-five participants (42%) experienced flu-like symptoms, 29 (20%) were tested for COVID-19, with only one confirmed case identified. Among 344 (93.2%) on antiretroviral therapy (73.8% efavirenz- vs 6.4% dolutegravir-based regimens), 219 (63.7%) attended their scheduled visits, 144 (41.9%) had limited access to care due to lockdown and 29 (8.4%) became less adherent to their antiretroviral therapy. Covariates associated with challenges during access to care were age ≥60 y (OR=6.5; 95% CI 1.8 to 23.2) and receiving second-line HIV treatment such as protease inhibitors (OR=2.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 5.8). The pandemic adversely affected PLHIV. New innovative strategies should be implemented to ensure the continuity of HIV services.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in a huge burden on healthcare systems, especially on programs for chronic illnesses such as HIV. We aimed to assess the challenges confronting adult people living with HIV (PLHIV) in three countries in North Africa during the COVID-19 crisis and their awareness of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical preventive measures.
METHODS
This online survey included PLHIV aged ≥18 y from three countries in North Africa recruited by a snowball sampling technique, who were asked to complete a modified questionnaire originally developed by the University of Antwerp in Belgium, which was then disseminated through social media tools to assess the study outcomes.
RESULTS
Out of 369 respondents, 260 (70.5%) were males and 237 (64.2%) were aged 18-39 y. Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, wearing facemasks (308 [83.2%]), applying hand-sanitizers (299 [80.8%]) and following cough etiquette (261 [70.5%]), were predominantly reported. Only 48 (13%) were vaccinated against influenza. One hundred and forty-five participants (42%) experienced flu-like symptoms, 29 (20%) were tested for COVID-19, with only one confirmed case identified. Among 344 (93.2%) on antiretroviral therapy (73.8% efavirenz- vs 6.4% dolutegravir-based regimens), 219 (63.7%) attended their scheduled visits, 144 (41.9%) had limited access to care due to lockdown and 29 (8.4%) became less adherent to their antiretroviral therapy. Covariates associated with challenges during access to care were age ≥60 y (OR=6.5; 95% CI 1.8 to 23.2) and receiving second-line HIV treatment such as protease inhibitors (OR=2.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 5.8).
CONCLUSION
The pandemic adversely affected PLHIV. New innovative strategies should be implemented to ensure the continuity of HIV services.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34676405
pii: 6407847
doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trab157
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
462-468Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.