Research Article: Measuring the burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection among persons living with HIV and healthcare workers and its impact on service delivery in Mozambique: protocol of a prospective cohort study
Abstract:
Introduction As COVID-19 continues to spread globally and within Mozambique, its impact among immunosuppressed persons, specifically persons living with HIV (PLHIV), and on the health system is unknown in the country. The ‘ COV id and h IV ’ (COVIV) study aims to investigate: (1) the seroprevalence and seroincidence of SARS-CoV-2 among PLHIV and healthcare workers providing HIV services; (2) knowledge, attitudes, practices and perceptions regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection; (3) the pandemic’s impact on HIV care continuum outcomes and (4) facility level compliance with national COVID-19 guidelines. Methods and analysis A multimethod study will be conducted in a maximum of 11 health facilities across Mozambique, comprising four components: (1) a cohort study among PLHIV and healthcare workers providing HIV services to determine the seroprevalence and seroincidence of SARS-CoV-2, (2) a structured survey to assess knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices regarding COVID-19 disease, (3) analysis of aggregated patient data to evaluate retention in HIV services among PLHIV, (4) an assessment of facility implementation of infection prevention and control measures. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was obtained from the National Health Bioethics Committee, and institutional review boards of implementing partners. Study findings will be discussed with local and national health authorities and key stakeholders and will be disseminated in clinical and scientific forums. Trial registration number NCT05022407 .
Introduction:
In addition to direct human costs, the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every facet of society and testing the resilience of national health systems worldwide. In Mozambique, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reported the first case of COVID-19 on 22 March 2020, and since then, >233 343 cases (as of 30 March 2023) have been reported. 1 2 Mozambique has a significant HIV burden, with approximately 2.1 million persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2020, the fourth highest globally. Based on recently released national…
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