Research Article: Health Workers’ Responses to COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Service Delivery to Adolescents in HIV Treatment in Cape Town, South Africa: A Qualitative Study
Abstract:
Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIVs) are considered a priority population in the fight against HIV, requiring dedicated services. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent disruptions deprived ALHIVs on antiretroviral therapy (ART) of the care and social support essential for treatment adherence and positive treatment outcomes. This study describes health managers’ and healthcare workers’ responses to the impact of COVID-19 on service delivery to ALHIVs in HIV treatment in the Cape Town Metropole. A descriptive qualitative design was employed, where semi-structured individual interviews (n = 13) were conducted with senior and programme managers as well as healthcare workers between April and October 2023. Inductive thematic analysis was performed using Atlas.ti version 23. Two main themes emerged from these interviews: “HIV service delivery to adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic” and “Lessons learnt—the way forward”. The de-escalation of health services at primary health facilities and the disruption of HIV services resulted in disengagement from care by ALHIVs, increasing mental health and treatment challenges. This warrants the restoration of psychosocial support services and the re-engagement of ALHIVs. The findings from this study can function as a guide for health systems and healthcare providers to navigate future pandemics to ensure that vulnerable populations such as ALHIVs continue to receive care and treatment.
Introduction:
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare systems and facilities globally, as containment measures exacerbated existing challenges within healthcare systems [1,2]. The first COVID-19 case in sub-Saharan Africa was reported on 27 February 2020, and as of 8 November 2023, 102,595 COVID-19-related deaths had been reported in South Africa [3]. The pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures impeded access to clinical care, thereby delaying access to HIV treatment [4,5]. In July 2020, 73 countries reported an…
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