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30-01-2023 | Care | Original Paper

The Impact of COVID-19 on HIV Care in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2019–2021: Disparities by Age and Gender

Authors: Anne E. Bocage, Lara E. Coelho, Jordan E. Lake, Jesse L. Clark, Thiago S. Torres, Emília M. Jalil, Sandra W. Cardoso, Ronaldo I. Moreira, Valdilea G. Veloso, Beatriz Grinsztejn, Paula M. Luz

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 8/2023

Abstract

We evaluated COVID-19’s impact on HIV care indicators among INI/FIOCRUZ’s HIV Clinical Cohort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: (1) Adequate care visits: two visits ≥ 90 days apart; (2) Adequate viral load monitoring: ≥ 2 viral load results ≥ 90 days apart; (3) Consistent viral suppression: all viral loads < 40 copies/mL; and (4) ART medication possession ratio (MPR) ≥ 95%. Chi-square tests compared the fraction of participants meeting each indicator per period: pre-pandemic (3/1/2019–2/29/2020) and post-pandemic (3/1/2020–2/28/2021). Logistic regression models were used to assess disparities in adequate care visits. Among 906 participants, care visits and viral load monitoring decreased pre-pandemic to post-pandemic: 77.0–55.1% and 36.6–11.6% (both p < 0.001), respectively. The optimal MPR rate improved from 25.5 to 40.0% (p < 0.001). Post-pandemic period (aOR 0.33, CI 0.28–0.40), transgender women (aOR 0.34, CI 0.22–0.53), and those aged 18–24 years (aOR 0.67, CI 0.45–0.97) had lower odds of adequate care visits. COVID-19 disrupted care access disproportionately for transgender women and younger participants.

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Title: The Impact of COVID-19 on HIV Care in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2019–2021: Disparities by Age and Gender
Authors: Anne E. Bocage
Lara E. Coelho
Jordan E. Lake
Jesse L. Clark
Thiago S. Torres
Emília M. Jalil
Sandra W. Cardoso
Ronaldo I. Moreira
Valdilea G. Veloso
Beatriz Grinsztejn
Paula M. Luz
Publication date: 30-01-2023
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Care
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
COVID-19
Published in: AIDS and Behavior / Issue 8/2023
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-023-03988-3

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