An exploratory study of factors associated with difficulties in accessing HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic among Chinese gay and bisexual men in Hong Kong

Yiu Tung Suen,Randolph C.H Chan,Eliz Miu Yin Wong

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.04.005

Abstract

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in the disruption of provision of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services. This study examined the factors associated with difficulties in accessing HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsAn online survey of 236 Chinese-speaking gay and bisexual men in Hong Kong conducted in 2020. ResultsAmong those who expressed a need to access HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic, 22.9%, 33.9% and 43.2% indicated moderate-to-high, mild and no difficulties in accessing these services, respectively. Difficulties in accessing HIV services were positively related to concerns about potential COVID-19 infection, experience of actual impact on health because of COVID-19, disruption in work/studies, and reduced connection to the LGBT+ community during the pandemic. It was also found that difficulties in accessing HIV services were positively associated with frequency of having sex with casual partners, but were not significantly associated with frequency of having sex with regular partners. ConclusionsThis study provides novel empirical evidence for understanding difficulties in accessing HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic. It found that disruption in work/studies and frequency of having sex with casual partners were associated with difficulties in accessing HIV services.

Highlights

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated implementation of quarantine, social distancing and community containment measures have resulted in the disruption of provision of many social services (Berg-Weger and Morley, 2020; Li et al, 2020; Rundle et al, 2020; Yang et al, 2020)
Building on the research literature which shows that frontline human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services have been disrupted and service users have reported difficulties in accessing HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study further examined the factors that are associated with difficulties in accessing HIV services by providing quantitative evidence
The results of ordinal regression highlighted that disruption in work/studies was positively predictive of difficulties in accessing HIV services

Summary

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated implementation of quarantine, social distancing and community containment measures have resulted in the disruption of provision of many social services (Berg-Weger and Morley, 2020; Li et al, 2020; Rundle et al, 2020; Yang et al, 2020). This includes disruption of the provision of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services that are provided to many socially marginalized groups in society whose vulnerability is exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic.

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Discussion

Conclusion