Impact of COVID-19 on HIV Testing Among AIDS Institute–Funded Providers in New York State–A Time Series Analysis

O'Grady, Thomas; Yuan, Yingchao; Harris, Julie M.; Massaroni, Ronald J.; Fuller, John A.; Tesoriero, James M.

doi:10.1097/qai.0000000000003109

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The number of HIV tests reported by NYSDOH AIDS Institute-funded providers decreased by more than 50% in NYS from March 2020 through June 2021. 31 Similarly, the number of HIV tests reported nationally was substantially lower in 2020 than in 2019. 30 This study is subject to at least 2 limitations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…For example, the percentage of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) participants from NYS who reported HIV testing during the year deceased markedly from 2019 (17.3%) to 2020 (12.5%), translating to more than 300 000 fewer HIV tests (Rakkoo Chung, PhD, e-mail communication, November 2021). The number of HIV tests reported by NYSDOH AIDS Institute–funded providers decreased by more than 50% in NYS from March 2020 through June 2021 31. Similarly, the number of HIV tests reported nationally was substantially lower in 2020 than in 2019 30…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geospatial Prioritization to Reach Hispanic or Latino and Other Priority Populations Through HIV Home Testing Services

Rosenthal

Tesoriero

Flavin

et al. 2023

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

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Context: Hispanic or Latino men who have sex with men (HLMSM) are disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York State (NYS) and nationally. In 2019, HLMSM comprised 13% of all new diagnoses and 21% of new diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM) in NYS excluding New York City. HIV home testing programs are effective methods for increasing HIV testing. Objective: This pilot sought to determine whether the NYS HIV Home Test Giveaway (HHTG) can effectively reach priority populations, specifically HLMSM/transgender/gender nonconforming persons who have sex with men, to increase uptake of HIV home testing services and identify new HIV infections. Design/Setting: We recruited participants using media campaigns linked to a brief self-administered eligibility survey. Eligible participants provided their e-mail address to receive a code for a free HIV home test and were sent a self-administered follow-up survey 4 to 11 weeks after eligibility survey completion. Participants: The 2018 and 2019 NYS HHTG reached 1214 and 1340 participants, respectively. A total of 606 participants in 2018 and 736 participants in 2019 were eligible to receive the HHTG home test kit. Main Outcome Measure(s): HHTG utilization and test results. Results: Hispanic or Latino persons participated at higher rates (34.8% and 25.4% in 2018 and 2019, respectively) than the percentage of Hispanic men in prioritized zip codes (15.7% and 15.6% in 2018 and 2019, respectively). The majority of participants who received HHTG test kits used them to test themselves (87.5% in 2018 and 90.6% in 2019). Across both rounds, 4 participants reported new HIV-positive results, for a seropositivity rate of approximately 1%. Conclusion: Geospatial prioritization was successful in reaching Hispanic or Latino priority populations for HIV testing. HIV self-testing programs such as the HHTG are beneficial methods to reach priority populations for state and national Ending the HIV Epidemic initiatives.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geospatial Prioritization to Reach Hispanic or Latino and Other Priority Populations Through HIV Home Testing Services

Rosenthal

Tesoriero

Flavin

et al. 2023

Journal of Public Health Management and Practice

Self Cite

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“…Our work provides additional context around the existing literature on changes in PrEP use and STIs/HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple studies have demonstrated decreases, sometimes transitory, in PrEP use and STI/HIV testing; 2–6,20 however, it was not always clear whether these decreases were associated with reduced sexual activity. Furthermore, data suggest an increase in STIs as social activity has reopened.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 At the individual level, people may have changed their sexual behavior as part of reducing COVID-19 exposure. 2 The pandemic resulted in decreases in use of STI/HIV prevention tools, such as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and routine testing, [2][3][4][5][6] and in reduction of sexual practices themselves. 2,3,7 Since the removal of nearly all COVID-19 mitigations, the nation has seen an increase in STI testing and diagnoses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2,3,7 Since the removal of nearly all COVID-19 mitigations, the nation has seen an increase in STI testing and diagnoses. 1,8 Although these changes in prevention are at this point well-documented, [2][3][4][5][6] it is unclear whether they were solely because of the lack of access to health care, were individuallevel responses to changes in sexual experiences over the course of the pandemic, or more likely, the combination of both. The balance of these factors influence the net impact on the HIV and STI epidemics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in HIV Prevention and Sexual Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study

Pyra¹,

Kline

Taylor

et al. 2023

JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

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Background: STI and HIV services and infection rates were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, because of changes in access to health care and individual behavior. Understanding how individuals made decisions around prevention and sexual activities during different phases of the pandemic is useful to addressing the rising rates of STIs and HIV. Setting: Federally-qualified health center focused on sexual and gender minority health, Chicago IL, 2021. Methods: Patients with a history of PrEP use who were contacted by the PrEP retention team as part of standard care were invited to complete an online survey. A subset of survey participants were then contacted to complete one-on-one interviews. Participants were asked about two distinct periods: November 2020 to January 2021 and February to June 2021. Results: From the 356 survey participants (mostly young, insured, and experienced with PrEP), more than half maintained their number of sex partners during the early pandemic and most also maintained PrEP use; during the later pandemic; most reported more or the same number of sex partners and almost all maintained PrEP use. From interviews, we identified diverse and changing experiences regarding sexual practices throughout the pandemic; whereas many participants changed PrEP use in accordance with sexual practices, many others maintained PrEP use as a habit. COVID-19 prevention was also a factor in sexual activities, particularly prevaccination. Conclusion: Many PrEP users try to align their HIV prevention with their sexual exposures and establish PrEP as a long-term habit. Removing financial and access barriers is important to improve PrEP use and STI testing.

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Impact of COVID-19 on the Utilization of HIV Testing and Linkage Services in Sierra Leone: Experience from Three Public Health Facilities in Freetown

Lakoh,

Bangura,

Adekanmbi

et al. 2023

AIDS Behav

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The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the delivery of essential health services globally. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on HIV testing and linkage services at three public health facilities in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the impact of COVID-19 on HIV testing and linkage to treatment services (HTS) at Connaught Hospital (CH-tertiary), Lumley Government Hospital (LGH-secondary) and George Brooke Community Health Center (GBC-primary) in Freetown. Statistical analyses were conducted in Stata (16.1, StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX). Intra-pandemic HTS (2020) and HTS during recovery (2021) were compared with pre-pandemic HTS (2019). Of the 8538 people tested for HIV in the three facilities, 4929 (57.5%) visited CH. Only 2249 people were tested for HIV in 2020 compared to 3825 in 2019 (difference: − 41.2%, P < 0.001). Fewer people were also tested in 2021 (difference: − 35.6% P < 0.001). The largest reductions in testing in 2020 occurred in women (− 47.7%), children under 15 (− 95.2%), married people (− 42.6%), and CH (− 46.2%). Overall, 1369 (16.0%) people were positive for HIV; CH (878, 17.9%), LGH (469, 15.6%) and GBC (22, 3.5%). The likelihood of a positive HIV test was 26% lower in 2020 than 2019 (PR 0.74; 95% CI 0.64–0.85; P < 0.001), but 16% higher in 2021 than 2019 (PR 1.16; 95% CI 1.03–1.30; P < 0.05). Of the 1369 HIV diagnosis, 526 (38.4%) were linked to care. We found significant disruptions in HIV testing and linkage services at different levels of service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need to strengthen essential health services during public health emergencies.

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Impact of COVID-19 on HIV Testing Among AIDS Institute–Funded Providers in New York State–A Time Series Analysis

Abstract: Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text.

Cited by 3 publications

References 19 publications

Geospatial Prioritization to Reach Hispanic or Latino and Other Priority Populations Through HIV Home Testing Services

Geospatial Prioritization to Reach Hispanic or Latino and Other Priority Populations Through HIV Home Testing Services

Changes in HIV Prevention and Sexual Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study

Impact of COVID-19 on the Utilization of HIV Testing and Linkage Services in Sierra Leone: Experience from Three Public Health Facilities in Freetown

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