The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and gender-based violence on uptake of HIV services in Touboro District Hospital, Cameroon

ABSTRACT

As we move towards HIV epidemic control in Cameroon, we strive to limit the number of new infections by maintaining on-treatment PWHIV. The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic may cause interruptions in HIV treatment and slow progression. COVID-19 control measures have caused;the lockdown of businesses, some health services, and imposed work from home, with intimate partners and more people spending longer hours together at home. As a consequence, there is an increased risk of gender-based violence (GBV). GBV can affect adherence to treatment in PWHIV and prevent them from accessing health services. The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of Covid-19 and GBV on the uptake of HIV services by assessing interruptions in treatment. Using a structured questionnaire, demographic data, Information on COVID-19 and intimate partner violence were obtained from 339 participants between 15 and 60 years old, taking HIV treatment at the Touboro district hospital. We used the Antiretroviral treatment register of the health facility to extract data on the frequency and duration of interruption in treatment. The Prevalence of intimate partner violence was high in our study participants, although interruption in treatment was only significant in respondents who reported verbal abuse. A strong association was observed between Covid 19 and interruption in treatment. There was equally an association between Covid-19 and an increase in intimate IPV. Other Socio-demographic variables found to affect interruption in treatment were level of Education of the partner, Age difference with intimate partner greater than 10 years, and early years on antiretroviral therapy. According to the study, Both Gender-based violence (IPV) and Covid-19 affect interruption in antiretroviral treatment.