COVID-19, Retention in HIV Care, and Access to Ancillary Services for Young Black Men Living with HIV in Chicago

Abstract

This study conducted 28 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Young Black Men who have Sex with Men in Chicago to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on their HIV care and ancillary service access. The qualitative analysis identified both negative and positive effects. The negative effects included: (l) mixed disruptions in linkage to and receipt of HIV care and ancillary services, and (2) heightened concerns about police and racial tensions in Chicago following the murder of George Floyd, contributing to possible disruption of retention in care. The positive effects included: (1) the ability to reflect and socially connect, contributing to heightened self-care and retention in care, and (2) some improvements in receipt of medical care. These findings suggest that while COVID-19 disruptions in care reduced in-person use of HIV care, the expansion of telemedicine allowed more administrative tasks to be handled online and focused in-person interactions on more substantive interactions.

Factors Associated With Rapid Linkage to HIV Medical Care Among Persons Newly Diagnosed With HIV Infection in the United States, 2019 to 2020

“…Improvement in linkage to HIV medical care, particularly during the COVID-19 period, was unexpected but may in part be due to innovations in service delivery. For example, a study with young Black MSM in Chicago showed continuing HIV care and ancillary service during COVID-19 through expanded use of telemedicine, which often delivered medications to patients' homes and eliminated transportation challenges 29 …”

“…For example, a study with young Black MSM in Chicago showed continuing HIV care and ancillary service during COVID-19 through expanded use of telemedicine, which often delivered medications to patients' homes and eliminated transportation challenges. 29 Our analysis consists of 3 limitations. First, these results are based on CDC-funded HIV testing data from health departments and CBOs and as such are not generalizable to linkage to HIV medical care from non-CDC-funded HIV testing in the United States.…”