Ahmed Cordie1,2, Mohamed AbdAllah3, Eman El Desouky4, Sara Gabrallah Mohamed Kheir5, Ikbal Kooli6, Mohamed Awad Mousnad7, Fatima Haj Idris5, Heba Abdella8, Mohamed Chakroun6, Gamal Esmat1,2. 1. Endemic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11212, Egypt. 2. Kasr Alaini HIV and Viral Hepatitis Fighting Group, Cairo University, Cairo 11212, Egypt. 3. Medical Research Division, National Research Center, Giza 12622, Egypt. 4. Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt. 5. Disease Control Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum 11111, Sudan. 6. Infectious diseases department, University Hospital of Monastir 5000, Tunisia. 7. National Health Insurance Fund, Khartoum 11123, Sudan. 8. Tropical Medicine Department, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.
Abstract
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.
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.
Authors: Rahma Mohamed; Trenton M White; Jeffrey V Lazarus; Amany Salem; Reham Kaki; Wafa Marrakchi; Sara G M Kheir; Ibrahim Amer; Fida M Ahmed; Maie A Khayat; Nabeela Al-Abdullah; Batool Ali; Roaa Sultan; Bandar Alamri; Anouf Abdulmajid; Ikbal Kooli; Mohamed Chakroun; Tariq A Madani; Gamal Esmat; Ahmed Cordie Journal: South Afr J HIV Med Date: 2022-08-24 Impact factor: 1.835