Assessment of Problems & Challenges faced by Anti-retroviral Therapy Seekers at an ART Centre of tertiary care hospital during the COVID-19 -pandemic.”

Abstract

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted people with pre-existing health conditions and has adversely affected the management of other diseases. Patients who are under treatment from tertiary care hospitals are badly affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 pandemic-associated disruptions in the HIV care cascade. Even temporary disruptions in ART services can cause long-term increases in HIV-associated morbidity and mortality. So, this study was planned to assess problems faced by the beneficiaries due to the COVID-19 pandemic in seeking services at ART centers. Methodology A cross-sectional study was planned to assess challenges faced by HIV patients in availing of ART services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Antiretroviral therapy seekers getting treatment from a selected ART center were included in the study. Problems faced by participants during the pandemic in availing of ART services were recorded with the help of semi-structured proforma. Results-Almost 35% of participants could not turn up on time for follow-up as per schedule, and 24% of participants reported deterioration due to difficult access to ART services during the COVID-19 pandemic. A statistically significant relationship was found between the status of follow-up with sex and occupation.                                                        Conclusion -The present study concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected ART seeker's accessibility to health care. Movement restriction was the main problem & missed follow-up was the most commonly found challenge faced by ART seekers during covid-19 pandemic.