Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (Jan 2023)

Interruptions to HIV Care Delivery During Pandemics and Natural Disasters: A Qualitative Study of Challenges and Opportunities From Frontline Healthcare Providers in Western Kenya

  • Dan N. Tran PharmD,
  • Jennifer Ching MSPH,
  • Catherine Kafu MSc,
  • Juddy Wachira PhD,
  • Hillary Koros MSc,
  • Maya Venkataramani MD, MPH,
  • Jamil Said MBCHB, MSc, MMed,
  • Sonak D. Pastakia PharmD, MPH, PhD,
  • Omar Galárraga PhD,
  • Becky L. Genberg PhD, MPH

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/23259582231152041
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22

Abstract

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During public health crises, people living with HIV (PLWH) may become disengaged from care. The goal of this study was to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent flooding disasters on HIV care delivery in western Kenya. We conducted ten individual in-depth interviews with HIV providers across four health facilities. We used an iterative and integrated inductive and deductive data analysis approach to generate four themes. First, increased structural interruptions created exacerbating strain on health facilities. Second, there was increased physical and psychosocial burnout among providers. Third, patient uptake of services along the HIV continuum decreased, particularly among vulnerable patients. Finally, existing community-based programs and teleconsultations could be adapted to provide differentiated HIV care. Community-centric care programs, with an emphasis on overcoming the social, economic, and structural barriers will be crucial to ensure optimal care and limit the impact of public health disruptions on HIV care globally.