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HIV Testing Services Outcomes in CDC-Funded Health Departments During COVID-19
Deesha Patel1, Weston O Williams2, Carolyn Wright1
1Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (1999)
|September 12, 2022
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 46% drop in HIV testing, leading to higher HIV positivity rates. Expanded testing strategies are needed to address missed diagnoses and adapt to the ongoing pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease Prevention
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic disrupted HIV prevention services nationally.
- The full extent and public health impact of these disruptions were largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV testing services outcomes.
- To compare HIV testing data from 2019 and 2020.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 60 state and local health departments.
- Compared HIV testing outcomes (number of tests, positivity, linkage to care) between 2019 and 2020.
- Employed robust Poisson models to assess associations between the pandemic period, COVID-19 cases, and HIV testing outcomes.
Main Results:
- A 46% reduction in HIV tests conducted in 2020 compared to 2019.
- HIV positivity increased from 0.3% in 2019 to 0.4% in 2020.
- The pandemic period was associated with reduced testing but higher positivity and improved linkage to care, even after adjusting for COVID-19 cases.
Conclusions:
- Significant reduction in HIV testing during 2020 impacted diagnosis capacity.
- Increased HIV positivity underscores the need for continued vigilance.
- Health departments must adapt and expand testing strategies to mitigate pandemic-related setbacks.
