The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with HIV in Victoria, Australia: 1 Year Later
Publication: AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
Volume 38, Issue Number 11
Abstract
In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia had <30,000 COVID-19 cases. Formerly stringent public health measures are now relaxed and vaccinations are available. We compared pandemic impacts on Victorians with HIV (people with HIV [PWHIV]) over time. Two surveys were developed with HIV stakeholder groups appraising demographics, concern, and pandemic impacts. The latter included vaccination, mental health, and quality of life questions. Recruitment was through social media and Alfred and Monash Health HIV-clinics (first survey August 26 to November 26, 2020; second survey October 30, 2021 to January 31, 2022). The surveys had 153 and 95 respondents, respectively. Demographics were similar. Most reported negatively impacted mental health (68%). Most (56%) required mental health services, of these, 39% could not access them. Rates of concern increased. Ninety percent had two COVID-19 vaccinations. Both surveys demonstrated HIV and non-HIV-care provision. PWHIV reported concern and negative impacts. Improved mental health services access is needed to optimize PWHIV quality of life.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
Volume 38 • Issue Number 11 • November 2022
Pages: 875 - 877
PubMed: 35972724
Copyright
Copyright 2022, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
History
Published online: 3 November 2022
Published in print: November 2022
Published ahead of print: 5 October 2022
Published ahead of production: 16 August 2022
Authors
Authors' Contributions
All authors contributed to study protocol development, survey design, and participant recruitment. Authors M.W., J.O., and J.L. were involved in ethics approval and data analysis. All of the listed coauthors have reviewed and approved the article before submission.
Author Disclosure Statement
No competing financial interests exist.
Funding Information
No funding was received for this article.
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