When Pandemics Collide: Actionable Lessons in HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care During the Era of COVID-19.
Bankole OlatosiRena C PatelXiaoming LiPublished in: AIDS and behavior (2024)
The articles in this special issue of AIDS and Behavior focus on the collision between HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 as intersecting pandemics that profoundly impacted communities globally. This editorial highlights the complex interplay between these two public health crises. The pandemic disrupted access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services, potentially jeopardizing decades of progress. Mental health challenges and social vulnerability among people living with HIV (PWH) were exacerbated, with preexisting health disparities amplified, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations. However, despite these challenges, the pandemic also spurred innovation and adaptation in HIV prevention and care, with increased use of telehealth and other modalities. The enduring and actionable lessons learned from the collision of HIV and COVID-19 pandemics can prepare us for the next public health challenge with two calls for action. First, we call for integrated and equitable responses that address the multifaceted challenges faced by individuals and communities affected by HIV in the post-COVID-19 era. Second, we call for a strengthened commitment to building resilient health systems and community-engaged interventions that can withstand future challenges.
Keyphrases
- coronavirus disease
- sars cov
- public health
- hiv aids
- mental health
- antiretroviral therapy
- healthcare
- hiv infected
- hiv positive
- human immunodeficiency virus
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- palliative care
- affordable care act
- primary care
- climate change
- hiv testing
- quality improvement
- pain management
- south africa
- resting state
- health promotion
- combination therapy
- functional connectivity