ArticleJournal of the International AIDS Society2021
Stakeholder efforts to mitigate antiretroviral therapy interruption among people living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a qualitative study.
Article in Journal of the International AIDS Society, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- HIV Testing Disruptions and Service Adaptations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Literature Review.AIDS and behavior · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Evolution of death trends and influencing factors of people living with HIV from 2003 to 2025 in Huangshi, China.BMC public health · 2026Article
- HIV drug resistance and its associated factors among patients during interruption of antiretroviral therapy in China.Frontiers in microbiology · 2025Article
- Lived experience, social support, and challenges to health service use during the COVID-19 pandemic among HIV key populations in Indonesia.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Barriers to Antiretroviral Medication Adherence in People Living with HIV (PLHIV) at the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines.Tropical medicine and infectious disease · 2023Article
- Barriers to access to antiretroviral therapy by people living with HIV in an indonesian remote district during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.BMC infectious diseases · 2023Article
- A case study of HIV/AIDS services from community-based organizations during COVID-19 lockdown in China.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on HIV care continuum in China: An interrupted time series analysis.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2022Article
- Provider Perspectives on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Service Disruptions and Adaptations During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Baltimore, Maryland: A Qualitative Study.AIDS patient care and STDs · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
introductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected antiretroviral therapy (ART) continuity among people living with HIV (PLHIV) worldwide. We conducted a qualitative study to explore barriers to ART maintenance and solutions to ART interruption when stringent COVID-19 control measures were implemented in China, from the perspective of PLHIV and relevant key stakeholders.
methodsBetween 11 February and 15 February 2020, we interviewed PLHIV, community-based organization (CBO) workers, staff from centres for disease control and prevention (CDC) at various levels whose work is relevant to HIV care (CDC staff), HIV doctors and nurses and drug vendors from various regions in China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a messaging and social media app. Challenges and responses relevant to ART continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic were discussed. Themes were identified by transcript coding and mindmaps.
resultsSixty-four stakeholders were recruited, including 16 PLHIV, 17 CBO workers, 15 CDC staff, 14 HIV doctors and nurses and two drug vendors. Many CDC staff, HIV doctors and nurses responsible for ART delivery and HIV care were shifted to COVID-19 response efforts. Barriers to ART maintenance were (a) travel restrictions, (b) inadequate communication and bureaucratic obstacles, (c) shortage in personnel, (d) privacy concerns, and (e) insufficient ART reserve. CBO helped PLHIV maintain access to ART through five solutions identified from thematic analysis: (a) coordination to refill ART from local CDC clinics or hospitals, (b) delivery of ART by mail, (c) privacy protection measures, (d) mental health counselling, and (e) providing connections to alternative sources of ART. Drug vendors contributed to ART maintenance by selling out-of-pocket ART.
conclusionsSocial and institutional disruption from COVID-19 contributed to increased risk of ART interruption among PLHIV in China. Collaboration among key stakeholders was needed to maintain access to ART, with CBO playing an important role. Other countries facing ART interruption during current or future public health emergencies may learn from the solutions employed in China.
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