Impact of COVID-19 on Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Services in the AHISA Network

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Charisse VV Ahmed, University of Pennsylvania; Merrian JJ Brooks, University of Pennsylvania; Stephanie M DeLong, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Sch Publ Hlth; Brian Zanoni, Emory University; Irene Njuguna, Kenyatta National Hospital, Research and Programs; Kristin Beima-Sofie, University of Washington; Dorothy EE Dow, Duke University; Aisa Shayo, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre; Alana Schreibman, University of Pennsylvania; Jennifer Chapman, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia; Lydia Chen, University of Pennsylvania; Shreya Mehta, University of Pennsylvania; Michael TT Mbizvo, Populat Council; Elizabeth D Lowenthal, University of Pennsylvania
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-12-27
• Publisher: SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2022
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10461-022-03959-0
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: AIDS AND BEHAVIOR
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 10
• Grant/Funding Information: Additionally, this research was funded through NIH/NIAID grant T32AI102623 to Stephanie M. DeLong.; This project was supported by the Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance.
• Keywords: Life Sciences & Biomedicine; CHILDREN; Biomedical Social Sciences; Social Sciences; survey; PROGRAMS; Africa; CARE; COVID-19; HIV treatment; implementation science; VIRAL SUPPRESSION; HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS; HIV prevention; Social Sciences, Biomedical; HEALTH TECHNOLOGY; INTERVENTIONS; SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA; Science & Technology; YOUNG-ADULTS; ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY ADHERENCE; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Biology, Biostatistics; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Nursing

Abstract

We investigated perceived impacts of COVID-19 on the delivery of adolescent HIV treatment and prevention services in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by administering a survey to members of the Adolescent HIV Prevention and Treatment Implementation Science Alliance (AHISA) from February to April 2021. We organized COVID-19 impacts, as perceived by AHISA teams, under three themes: service interruptions, service adjustments, and perceived individual-level health impacts. AHISA teams commonly reported interruptions to prevention programs, diagnostic testing, and access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Common service adjustments included decentralization of ART refills, expanded multi-month ART distribution, and digital technology use. Perceived individual-level impacts included social isolation, loss to follow-up, food insecurity, poverty, and increases in adolescent pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. The need for collaboration among stakeholders were commonly cited as lessons learned by AHISA teams. Survey findings highlight the need for implementation science research to evaluate the effects of pandemic-related HIV service adaptations in SSA.