The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on accessing HIV care: A case report

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Ramprakash Kaswa1

  • 1Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha. rp.kaswa@gmail.com.

South African Family Practice : Official Journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care
|October 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services and antiretroviral therapy (ART) access for people living with HIV. This disruption may worsen HIV-associated illness and death, potentially exceeding the pandemic

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global health services.
  • Access to chronic medication, including antiretroviral therapy (ART), was challenged by lockdown measures.

Observation:

  • People living with HIV (PLWHIV) altered health-seeking behaviors due to COVID-19 restrictions.
  • Healthcare access for individuals on chronic medication was substantially affected.

Findings:

  • Disruption of ART regimens poses a serious risk to HIV-associated morbidity and mortality.
  • The interruption of ART services may have a more severe impact on HIV programs than the pandemic itself.

Implications:

  • Urgent strategies are needed to ensure ART continuity for PLWHIV during health crises.
  • Strengthening HIV service delivery resilience is crucial for mitigating long-term health consequences.

Keywords:
ARTCOVID-19HIVlockdownmorbidity and mortalitypandemic

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