ArticlePloS one2023
Effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the HIV care continuum in Southwestern Uganda: A time series analysis.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on the HIV care continuum across global income levels: a mixed-methods systematic review.AIDS research and therapy · 2025Pooled it
- Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV care continuum and related factors in economically disadvantaged nations: an integrated analysis using mixed-methods systematic review.European journal of medical research · 2024Pooled it
- Factors associated with mortality among people with advanced HIV disease in rural uganda: a retrospective study.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Impact of COVID-19 Public Health Measures on Antiretroviral Therapy Use Among Ugandans Living with HIV in Sero-Different Couples.AIDS and behavior · 2025Observational
- Retaining Versus Engaging Youth in HIV Care: Perspectives From a Qualitative Study among Youth Living With HIV and Their Care Providers in Kenya and Uganda.Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS CareArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
introductionIn Uganda, COVID-19 lockdown policies curbed the spread of SARS-CoV-2, but their effect on HIV care is poorly understood.
objectivesWe examined the effects of COVID-19 lockdown policies on ART initiation, missed visits, and viral suppression in Uganda.
methodsWe conducted a time series analysis using data from a dynamic cohort of persons with HIV enrolled between March 2017 and September 2021 at HIV clinics in Masaka and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospitals in Southwestern Uganda. Poisson and fractional probit regression were used to predict expected monthly antiretroviral therapy initiations, missed visits, and viral suppression based on pre-lockdown trends. Observed and expected trends were compared across three policy periods: April 2020-September 2021 (overall), April-May 2020 (1st lockdown), and June-August 2021 (2nd lockdown).
resultsWe enrolled 7071 Persons living with HIV (PWH) (nMasaka = 4150; nMbarara = 2921). Average ART duration was 34 and 30 months in Masaka and Mbarara, respectively. During the 18-month post-lockdown period, monthly ART initiations were lower than expected in both Masaka (51 versus 63 visits; a decrease of 12 [95% CI: -2, 31] visits) and Mbarara (42 versus 55 visits; a decrase of 13 [95% CI: 0, 27] visits). Proportion of missed visits was moderately higher than expected post-lockdown in Masaka (10% versus 7%; 4% [95% CI: 1%, 7%] absolute increase), but not in Mbarara (13% versus 13%; 0% [95% CI: -4%, 6%] absolute decrease). Viral suppression rates were moderate-to-high in Masaka (64.7%) and Mbarara (92.5%) pre-lockdown and remained steady throughout the post-lockdown period.
conclusionThe COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda was associated with reductions in ART initiation, with minimal effects on retention and viral suppression, indicating a resilient HIV care system.
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