Exploring the challenges of women taking antiretroviral treatment during the COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown in peri‐urban Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The COVID-19 epidemic has caused a disastrous situation for all affected populations, particularly vulnerable groups within communities, such as people with chronic diseases, i.e. HIV and AIDS. 1 These populations need functioning healthcare systems, sanitation and hygiene, safe water, and a healthy food supply. Due to the epidemic, people cannot maintain their jobs, resulting in the deterioration of the economy and public health services. Furthermore, important institutions, such as the health sector, were constantly under pressure

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to and utilisation of services for sexual and reproductive health: a scoping review

“…Studies were conducted in all seven major geographical (World Bank) regions of the world; 28% of the studies were done in North America,28–50 28% in sub-Saharan Africa,51–73 20% in Europe and Central Asia,74–90 8% in East Asia & Pacific,91–97 5% in Latin America and the Caribbean,98–101 2% in South Asia102 103 and 1% in the Middle East and North Africa 104. Studies were conducted in more than 34 countries.…”

“…Of all included studies, 10 were conducted in multiple countries (five or more),79 80 85 90 105–110 six of which spanned multiple geographical regions 105–110. While most studies (61%) did not specify setting, a quarter took place in urban or periurban regions,32 37 38 40 46 48 52 55 56 59 63–66 71 72 81 88 89 96–99 8% in rural areas57 58 60 68 73 91 103 and 7% directly compared outcomes in urban versus rural areas 51 54 61 69 75 87 Online supplemental table 1. displays the characteristics of included studies.…”

“…displays the characteristics of included studies. There was a relatively even distribution of studies across SRH focus areas: 30 (36%) provided evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to or utilisation of contraceptive services,28 29 32 35 37 40 42 47 51–54 57 58 63 67 68 71 73 75 78 82 83 88 91 93 97 104 109 110 21 (25%) on abortion services,30 32–35 40 43 49–52 68 73 80 87 89 90 93 99 103 109 20 (24%) on GBV/IPV services28 31 36 38 39 45 46 48 74 76 77 81 84 86 98 101 102 105 107 109 and 33 (40%) on STI-related services 35 40 41 44 53 55–62 64–66 69–73 79 85 91–96 100 104 106 108 Figure 2. illustrates the distribution of studies among each of the four SRH service focus area by region and by study type.…”

“…Nearly half of included studies (40, 48%) found a decrease in access or utilisation of STIs/HIV services 35 40 41 44 53 55–62 64–66 69–73 79 85 91–96 100 104 106 108. STI testing reductions were reported in Uganda,53 the USA,35 Jordan,104 Thailand95 and Uganda 60.…”

“…72 Evidence of the negative impact of the pandemic on access to services for treatment and management of STIs was reported by 14 studies. 40 53 59 62 64 69 71 92-95 100 104 106 Difficulty accessing antiretroviral treatment (ART) was reported in several countries with a high incidence of HIV, including Zimbabwe, 59 Uganda, 53 64 South Africa, 69 Kenya 71 and Haiti, 100 as well as Myanmar, 94 Thailand, 95 China 92 93 and the USA. 40 Lecher et al 62 found that viral load testing to monitor HIV status among PLWH decreased by 71% in all President's Emergenct Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) -supported countries in March 2020.…”