Health-care access and utilization among HIV-infected men who have sex with men in two Chinese municipalities with or without lockdown amidst early COVID-19 pandemic. Issue 11 (2nd November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Jiayu; Ding, Yingying; Wong, Frank Y.; He, Na
• Is Part Of: AIDS care. Volume 34:Issue 11(2022)
• Page Start: 1390
• Page End: 1399
• Publication Date: 2022-11-02
• Subjects: HIV -- MSM -- health care -- mental health -- lockdown -- COVID-19; AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Care -- Periodicals; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; 362.1969792
• DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2041163
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-0121

Abstract

ABSTRACT: City lockdown is critical to successfully contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare among vulnerable population has yet to be explicated. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Wuhan with city lockdown and Shanghai without lockdown, and healthcare interruptions were evaluated and compared. A logistic regression analysis was employed to examine associates of HIV-related healthcare interruptions and compromised mental health. Compared to participants in Shanghai ( N = 440), HIV-infected MSM in Wuhan ( N = 503) had significantly higher proportion of untimely availability of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) (20.6% vs. 8.4%), obtaining ARVs from outside institutions (29.1% vs. 8.1%), postponed non-AIDS treatment (6.4% vs. 2.8%) and untimely follow-up appointments (33.4% vs. 14.5%). HIV-related healthcare interruptions were positively associated with lockdown (OR = 4.89, 95% CI: 3.49–6.85) and non-local residence (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.37–2.64). Compromised mental health, including insomnia and generalized anxiety disorders, was associated with non-local residence (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.01–1.81) and healthcare interruptions (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.01–1.79). HIV-infected MSM are vulnerable to healthcare interruptions and mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need for tailored intervention strategies to minimize deleterious health consequences.