HIV Testing and Diagnoses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Melbourne, Australia

Chow, Eric P F; Ong, Jason J.; Denham, Ian; Fairley, Christopher K

doi:10.1097/qai.0000000000002604

Cited by 28 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This is supported by an overall decrease of 71% of new HIV diagnoses reported by the Panama government during that period [20]. A study in Australia also found a substantial decrease in HIV tests during 2020 [21]. HIV testing services elsewhere, including Latin America, have been significantly interrupted during the global pandemic [22][23][24][25][26].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How did COVID-19 measures impact sexual behaviour and access to HIV/STI services in Panama? Results from a national cross-sectional online survey

Gabster

Erausquin

Michielsen

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Objectives To describe changes in sexual behaviours, including virtual sex (sexting and cybersex), and access to STI&HIV testing and care during COVID-19 measures in Panama. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional survey from August 8 to September 12, 2020, among adults (≥18 years) residing in Panama. Participants were recruited through social media. Questions included demographics, access to STI&HIV testing and HIV care and sexual behaviours three months before COVID-19 social distancing measures and during social distancing measures (COVID-19 measures). Logistic regression was used to identify associations between variables and behavioural changes. Results We recruited 960 participants; 526 (54.8%) identified as cis-women, 366 (38.1%) cis-men, and 68 (7.1%) non-binary or another gender; median age was 28y (IQR:23-37y), 531/957 (55.5%) were of mixed-ethnicity (mixed-Indigenous/European/Afro-descendant ancestry). Before COVID-19 measures, virtual sex was reported by 38.5% (181/470) cis-women, 58.4% (184/315) cis-men and 45.0% (27/60) non-binary participants; during COVID-19 measures, virtual sex increased among 17.2% cis-women, 24.7% cis-men and 8.9% non-binary participants. During COVID-19 measures, 230/800 [28.8%] of participants reported decreased casual sex compared to pre-COVID-19 measures. Compared to pre-COVID-19 measures, decreased casual sex were reported more frequently during COVID-19 measures by cis-men compared to cis-women (39.2% versus 22.9%, urban/rural adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.57-3.01); and by Afro-descendant compared to mixed-ethnicity participants (40.0% versus 29.8%, AOR=1.78, 95%CI:1.07-2.94). Compared to no change in virtual sex (16.8%), increase in virtual sex (38.5%, AOR=1.78, 95%CI:1.10-2.88); and decreased virtual sex (86.7%, AOR=16.53, 95%CI:7.74-35.27) were associated with decreased casual sex encounters. During COVID-19 measures, STI&HIV testing could not be obtained by 58.0% (58/100) participants who needed a test, and interrupted HIV care was reported by 53.3% (8/15) HIV-positive participants. Conclusions COVID-19 measures in Panama were associated with a decrease in casual sex among cis-men and Afro-descendant peoples, whilst access to STI&HIV testing and care was seriously disrupted.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How did COVID-19 measures impact sexual behaviour and access to HIV/STI services in Panama? Results from a national cross-sectional online survey

Gabster

Erausquin

Michielsen

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This may have biased the proportion of controlled viral load. However, the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases at the MSHC between 2018 and 2020 was small (i.e., approximately 60 cases per year), which account for 5.3% of all patients included in the viral load analysis and is unlikely to affect the interpretation of the results [ 14 , 15 ]. Fourth, the MPR calculation for 2020 may have been overestimated for those receiving ART beyond 2020 as the end date was assumed to be 31/12/2020.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Access to HIV Antiretroviral Therapy among People Living with HIV in Melbourne during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Lee

Chow

Aguirre

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The social measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic can potentially disrupt the management of HIV. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the Australian COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV in Melbourne. Using data from the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC), we assessed the changes in rates of ART postal delivery, controlled viral load, and ART dispensing from 2018 to 2020. The percentage of ART delivered by postage from the MSHC pharmacy was calculated weekly. The percentage of people living with HIV with a controlled viral load (≤200 copies/mL) was calculated monthly. We calculated a yearly Medication Possession Ratio (MPR). The average percentage of HIV ART dispensed through postage for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020 was 3.7% (371/10,023), 3.6% (380/10,685), and 14% (1478/10,765), respectively (Ptrend < 0.0001). Of the 3115 people living with HIV, the average MPR for 2018, 2019, and 2020 was 1.05, 1.06, and 1.14, respectively (Ptrend = 0.28). The average percentage of people with an HIV viral load of <200 copies/mL for the years 2018, 2019, and 2020 was 97.6% (2271/2327), 98.0% (2390/2438), and 99.2% (2048/2064), respectively (Ptrend < 0.0001). This study found that the proportion of controlled viral load and access to ART of people living with HIV in Melbourne was largely unaffected by the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. This suggests that some of the services provided by the MSHC during the pandemic, such as HIV ART postal delivery, may assist long-term HIV management.

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“…Before the COVID-19 pandemic, new HIV diagnoses among Australian-born MSM were decreasing but new HIV diagnoses among overseas-born MSM were increasing, particularly individuals who are recently arrived migrants and international students [33][34][35][36]. Given Australia has closed its border to international travellers, fewer migrants and international students would have been tested for HIV in 2020 than in 2019 [37].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, Testing, and New Diagnoses in Two Australian Cities with Different Lockdown Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Chow

Ong

Donovan

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Australia introduced a national lockdown on 22 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Melbourne, but not Sydney, had a second COVID-19 lockdown between July and October 2020. We compared the number of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) prescriptions, HIV tests, and new HIV diagnoses during these lockdown periods. The three outcomes in 2020 were compared to 2019 using incidence rate ratio. There was a 37% and 46% reduction in PEP prescriptions in Melbourne and Sydney, respectively, with a larger reduction during lockdown (68% and 57% reductions in Melbourne’s first and second lockdown, 60% reduction in Sydney’s lockdown). There was a 41% and 32% reduction in HIV tests in Melbourne and Sydney, respectively, with a larger reduction during lockdown (57% and 61% reductions in Melbourne’s first and second lockdowns, 58% reduction in Sydney’s lockdown). There was a 44% and 47% reduction in new HIV diagnoses in Melbourne and Sydney, respectively, but no significant reductions during lockdown. The reduction in PEP prescriptions, HIV tests, and new HIV diagnoses during the lockdown periods could be due to the reduction in the number of sexual partners during that period. It could also result in more HIV transmission due to substantial reductions in HIV prevention measures during COVID-19 lockdowns.

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HIV Testing and Diagnoses During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Melbourne, Australia

Cited by 28 publications

References 9 publications

How did COVID-19 measures impact sexual behaviour and access to HIV/STI services in Panama? Results from a national cross-sectional online survey

How did COVID-19 measures impact sexual behaviour and access to HIV/STI services in Panama? Results from a national cross-sectional online survey

Access to HIV Antiretroviral Therapy among People Living with HIV in Melbourne during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Comparing HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, Testing, and New Diagnoses in Two Australian Cities with Different Lockdown Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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