How Central Ugandan HIV Clinics Adapted During COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions to Promote Continuous Access to Care: A Qualitative Analysis.

We used qualitative data from the Partners PrEP Program (PPP) to address the question: How did Central Ugandan HIV clinics adapt to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions to promote continuous access to HIV care? PPP was a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial of integrated PrEP and ART delivery for HIV serodifferent couples at Central Ugandan HIV clinics (NCT03586128). Individual interviews with purposefully selected PPP couples (N = 42) and clinicians, coordinators, and counselors providing HIV care (N = 36) were carried out. Sixty-four interviews were completed after lockdown and included questions about accessing and providing ART/PrEP refills during lockdown restrictions. We used an inductive, content-focused approach to analyze these interview data. Barriers to continuous access identified by interviewees included loss of income with increased cost of transport, reduced staff at clinics, and physical distancing at clinics. Interviewees pointed to multi-month refills, visits to clinics "close to home," transport to clinics for providers, and delivery of refills in neighborhoods as factors promoting continuous access to antiretroviral medications. Access barriers appeared somewhat different for ART and PrEP. Fewer resources for community delivery and pre-refill HIV testing requirements were identified as PrEP-specific access challenges. Participants emphasized their success in continuing ART/PrEP adherence during the lockdown, while providers emphasized missed refill visits. These results highlight the contributions of providers and ART/PrEP users to adaptation of HIV services during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in Uganda. The roles of direct care providers and service users as drivers of adaptation should be recognized in future efforts to conceptualize and investigate health system resiliency.

Influences on PrEP Uptake and Adherence Among South African Women During Periconception and Pregnancy: A Qualitative Analysis.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective for HIV prevention, yet PrEP delivery to women in periconception and pregnancy has lagged. We report qualitative research from a study evaluating PrEP use as part of safer conception care for 330 South African women. Fifty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 study participants to identify influences on PrEP adherence. Influences were: (1) changing proximity to male partners; (2) COVID-19 lockdown; (3) mobile lifestyle; (4) PrEP-related stigma; (5) disclosure of PrEP use; and (6) pregnancy and motherhood. Data also revealed important contextual information shaping adherence influences for women, including: (a) not living with partners, (b) partners as drivers of pregnancy intention, and (c) feeling at high risk for HIV. Disclosure of PrEP use, addressing stigma, strategies for traveling with pills, and counseling on prevention effective adherence are promising components of PrEP-inclusive HIV prevention interventions for South African women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy.