Health-care (ART) interruptions and psychological effects on persons with HIV/AIDS during COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Covid-19 has led to an unparalleled disruption to the lives and health care across the world and a warning has been issued by the World Health Organization (WHO)on disruptions of health care services to people with HIV/AIDS, and the increase in HIV related mortality. Persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) are at higher risk to COVID-19 due to lower CD4 count and immunity. The Health care disruptions as seen due to lock down and priority to COVID-19 care can lead to physical and psychological consequences on the PLHAs. Objectives: To identify the disruptions of health care services towards persons with HIV/AIDS and to investigate the level of depression, anxiety and stress among PLHAs. Materials and Method: An interview schedule with open and close-ended questions were used to collect data from PLHAs (N =50) using a convenient sampling technique between May and June 2020. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 items (DASS-21) was used to assess depression, anxiety and stress. Results:  A majority of the respondents were unable to access ART medication without delay after the lockdown and they experienced severe depression (51%), experienced extremely severe anxiety (44%) and severe stress (39%), there was a positive correlation between stress and number of weeks the respondents did not have access to ART dosages during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. It was statistically significant. Conclusion: The study revealed that a significant proportion of the people living with HIV/AIDS had experienced depression and anxiety during the interruption of ART, it also emphasizes the need for continued psychosocial intervention and support to the infected and undisrupted health-care, and respondents were ready to participate in various programs and activities to improve psychological well-being.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, interruptions of health care services