Impact of covid-19 on people living with HIV-1: care and prevention indicators at a local and nationwide level, Santo André, Brazil

Author(s)

Elaine Monteiro Matsuda ^[1] ; Isabela Penteriche de Oliveira ^[2] ; Laura Ballesteros Bao ^[3] ; Fernanda Matsuda Manzoni ^[4] ; Norberto Camilo Campos ^[5] ; Beatriz Brajal Varejão ^[6] ; Maristelly Pereira Leal ^[7] ; Vania Barbosa Nascimento ^[8] ; Luís Fernando de Macedo Brígido ^[9]

Affiliation

^[1] Secretaria da Saúde de Santo André. Centro Médico de Especialidades – Infectologia - Brasil

^[2] Secretaria da Saúde de Santo André. Centro Médico de Especialidades – Infectologia - Brasil

^[3] Secretaria da Saúde de Santo André. Centro Médico de Especialidades – Infectologia - Brasil

^[4] Secretaria da Saúde de Santo André. Centro Médico de Especialidades – Infectologia - Brasil

^[5] Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Centro de Virologia - Brasil

^[6] Secretaria da Saúde de Santo André. Centro Médico de Especialidades – Infectologia - Brasil

^[7] Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Centro de Virologia - Brasil

^[8] Faculdade de Medicina do ABC. Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva - Brasil

^[9] Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Centro de Virologia - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista de Saúde Pública; v. 56, 2022-05-27.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The world has been dealing with Aids for forty years, covid-19 accentuated societal inequalities and promoted a rupture in care and prevention, including for people living with HIV. We compiled official HIV indicators, analyzed the impact of covid-19 in Brazil, at São Paulo State (SP), and compared it to the municipality of Santo André (in the state of São Paulo), which adopted linkage/retention strategies to mitigate the impact of covid-19. From 2019 to 2020, suppression/adhesion rates remained stable. The number of new treatments decreased both in Brazil (-19.75%) and São Paulo (-16.44%), but not in Santo André, where 80% of new patients started treatment within 30 days from their first TCD4 test (70% in São Paulo and 64% in Brazil). However, PrEP dispensing increased during this period. The distribution of 2,820 HIV self-tests in Santo André lead to only one documented new HIV diagnosis linked to care. Synergistic strategies to swiftly diagnose and connect new cases, ensuring retention as well as rescuing missing patients deserve priority in the fight against HIV, especially in times of covid-19. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/14384-9 - Identification and characterization of acute cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) infection
• Grantee: Luís Fernando de Macedo Brígido
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies