ABSTRACT
AIMS/OBJECTIVES: Through interviews with clinical service providers, we explored stigma's impact on HIV service provision for African Americans during COVID-19. BACKGROUND: African Americans experience disproportionate rates of HIV and COVID-19. We explored COVID-19's impact on HIV services for African American adults in a Southern city. DESIGN: The study was qualitative and observational. METHODS: Key informant interviews were conducted (n = 11) across two healthcare centres and two community-based organisations and thematically analysed using phenomenological approaches by two coders. Interviews explored pre- and post-COVID-19 service provision and parallels between COVID-19 and HIV, particularly as related to stigma. The COREQ checklist was utilised to ensure research quality. RESULTS: According to the providers interviewed, all providers offered HIV prevention/treatment, but PrEP and preventive services diminished greatly early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Successful transition to telehealth depended on existing telehealth use. Challenges exacerbated by COVID-19 included food/housing insecurity and physical distancing constraints. Clients' COVID-19 informational needs shifted from concerns to vaccine requests over time. Interviewees stated HIV and COVID-19 both carry 'risk taking'; however, HIV risk was more physically intimate than COVID-19. Notably, some providers used stigmatising language referring to clients with HIV/COVID and omitted person-centred language. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest need to address challenges in telehealth to improve client experiences now and for future pandemics. More research is needed to examine intersectional stigmatisation of COVID-19 and HIV for African Americans to design person-centred counselling interventions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Results demonstrate need for provider training to reframe stigma discussions using client centeredness, educating African Americans on HIV and COVID-19 prevention, and coordination with local organisations to address multiple care needs. PATIENT/PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This research highlights needs of clients based on the views of healthcare providers caring for predominantly African American communities in a Southern city. However, no patients, service users, caregivers or members of the public were directly involved in this study.