Multicenter observational survey on psychosocial and behavioral impacts of COVID-19 in people living with HIV in Northern Vietnam

Abstract

Socially marginalized groups, including people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), could be disproportionately affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Following an initial single-center survey conducted in 2020, we conducted a second survey of 11 antiretroviral therapy (ART) sites in Northern Vietnam between June 2021 and January 2022. We tested anti-SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) nucleocapsid IgG antibodies and assessed prevention against COVID-19 and impacts of COVID-19 on access to ART, economic security, risky health behaviors, and mental health using self-reported questionnaires. In total, 7808 PLHIV on ART participated in the second survey. The overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody was as low as 1.2%. There was no clear upward trend in COVID-19 infection among PLHIV compared with the rate of infection among the general population. HIV treatment was generally maintained and no increase in risky health behaviors was observed. The economic impacts were significant, with high unemployment rate, poorer economic security, and binge drinking strongly associated with depression. However, the prevalence of depression decreased by 11.2% compared with pre-COVID-19 levels. Social support, including for patients to continue HIV treatment and effective employment/financial assistance, may help to alleviate the negative socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 and improve mental health among PLHIV.

Prevalence of transmitted drug resistance and phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1 among antiretroviral therapy-naïve patients in Northern Vietnam from 2019 to 2022

“…However, the stable trend in TDR prevalence observed in this study contrasts with the trend for rising TDR prevalence in Asia and low-income countries (17,18). One explanation for such a difference may be the successful maintenance of HIV treatment during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Vietnam (19). The effective responses to COVID-19 at all HIV service levels to ensure the preservation of the HIV continuum of care may have contributed to stable treatment outcomes during the pandemic and prevented the development and transmission of HIVDR among PLWH.…”