Living with HIV during COVID-19: knowledge and worry about COVID-19, adherence to COVID-19-related precautions, and HIV health outcomes

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Nemli S. A., Yiğit İ., Agrali B., Gokengin D., Turan B.

AIDS CARE, vol.0, no.0, pp.1-4, 2022 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 0 Issue: 0
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2148156
  • Journal Name: AIDS CARE
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, PASCAL, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, Gender Studies Database, MEDLINE, PAIS International, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Violence & Abuse Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-4
  • Keywords: ART adherence, viral load, COVID-19, COVID-19-related worry, adherence to COVID-19-related precautions
  • TED University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been profound impacts on mental and physical health of individuals with chronic diseases. Thus, it is important to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with HIV. We aimed to assess the association between COVID-19-related knowledge and worry, HIV-related health practices and outcomes, and adherence to precautions related to COVID-19, and possible associations of these factors with HIV treatment outcomes (ART adherence and viral load). A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2020 and February 2021 among 291 PLWH at two large university hospital HIV clinics in Izmir, Turkey. Additionally, the most recent HIV-RNA load, CD4 count was recorded using medical records. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine predictors of self-reported adherence to COVID-19-related precautions, ART adherence and undetectable viral load. COVID-19-related worry, COVID-19-related knowledge, and ART adherence were significant predictors of adherence to COVID-19-related precautions. Furthermore, adherence to COVID-19-related precautions was a significant predictor of both ART adherence and undetectable viral load. Findings provide a unique aspect of the interrelations of COVID and living with HIV. Since health behaviors and outcomes for COVID-19 and HIV seem to be interrelated, treatment practices and interventions that address these simultaneously may enhance their efficacy.