ArticlePloS one2021
Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis and HIV services: A cross-sectional survey of 669 health professionals in 64 low and middle-income countries.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 67 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
67 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 89 citations in OpenAlex.
- HIV Testing Disruptions and Service Adaptations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review.AIDS and behavior · 2024Pooled it
- Impact of COVID-19 on TB and HIV/AIDS severity in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.Dialogues in health · 2026Review
- Mechanisms ofBreathe (Sheffield, England) · 2026Review
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- Article
- Tuberculosis service delivery challenges and their mitigations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania: a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Coinfections in Tuberculosis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Epidemiology, Clinical Implications, Diagnostic Challenges, and Management Strategies-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis and HIV health services delivery in Ghana: qualitative evidence from the perspectives of healthcare providers.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- COVID-19 policies and tuberculosis services in private health sectors of India, Indonesia, and Nigeria.Journal of clinical tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases · 2025Article
- Predicting the Incidence Rate of Tuberculosis in Western Iran Using Time Series Models Before and After COVID-19.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2025Article
- Emerging Research Trends on Medication Adherence in Tuberculosis Treatment: A Bibliometric Study of Research Between 2015 and 2024 to Inform Future Research Trajectory.Patient preference and adherence · 2025Review
- DOES COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECT THE ELIMINATION OF TUBERCULOSIS? LESSONS LEARNED FROM INDONESIA.African journal of infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Estimating the impact of the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment outcomes in Southeastern City in Iran: an interrupted time series analysis of the preceding 10 years of ecological data.BMC health services research · 2024Article
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- The impact of COVID-19 national lockdowns on drug-resistant tuberculosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A spatial analysis.Annals of epidemiology · 2024Article
- Impact of COVID-19 on the neglected tropical diseases: a scoping review.Infectious diseases of poverty · 2024Article
- LLIN Evaluation in Uganda Project (LLINEUP): modelling the impact of COVID-19-related disruptions on delivery of long-lasting insecticidal nets on malaria indicators in Uganda.Malaria journal · 2024Article
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- "I pity the TB patient": a mixed methods study assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB services in two major Indonesian cities and distilling lessons for the future.BMJ global health · 2024Article
- Unsuccessful tuberculosis treatment outcomes across Brazil's geographical landscape before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: are we truly advancing toward the sustainable development/end TB goal?Infectious diseases of poverty · 2024Article
7 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThe experiences of frontline healthcare professionals are essential in identifying strategies to mitigate the disruption to healthcare services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of TB and HIV professionals in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Between May 12 and August 6, 2020, we collected qualitative and quantitative data using an online survey in 11 languages. We used descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to analyse responses.
findings669 respondents from 64 countries completed the survey. Over 40% stated that it was either impossible or much harder for TB and HIV patients to reach healthcare facilities since COVID-19. The most common barriers reported to affect patients were: fear of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, transport disruptions and movement restrictions. 37% and 28% of responses about TB and HIV stated that healthcare provider access to facilities was also severely impacted. Strategies to address reduced transport needs and costs-including proactive coordination between the health and transport sector and cards that facilitate lower cost or easier travel-were presented in qualitative responses. Access to non-medical support for patients, such as food supplementation or counselling, was severely disrupted according to 36% and 31% of HIV and TB respondents respectively; qualitative data suggested that the need for such services was exacerbated.
conclusionPatients and healthcare providers across numerous LMIC faced substantial challenges in accessing healthcare facilities, and non-medical support for patients was particularly impacted. Synthesising recommendations of frontline professionals should be prioritised for informing policymakers and healthcare service delivery organisations.
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