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Title
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Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on early infant diagnosis of HIV in Cape Town, South Africa
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Author
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Abstract
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Background: In South Africa, infants who are HIV-exposed are tested for HIV at birth and 10 weeks of age. The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions resulted in reduced access to healthcare services and uncertain impact on early infant HIV testing. Objectives: To describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on early infant HIV testing and diagnosis in Cape Town, South Africa. Method: This retrospective cohort study compares HIV-exposed infants born during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (2020) to those born in the same period the year before (2019). Laboratory and other data were abstracted from the Provincial Health Data Centre. Results: A total of 2888 infants were included: 1474 born in 2020 and 1413 in 2019. Compared to 2019, there was an increase in the 10-week HIV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) uptake in 2020 (71% vs. 60%, P < 0.001). There was also an increase in the proportion of infants who demised without 10-week testing or were lost to follow-up in 2020 compared to 2019 (8% vs. 5%, P = 0.017). Differences detected in birth HIV PCR positivity rates between the two groups (1.1% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.17) did not reach statistical significance; however, a significant increase in vertical transmission of HIV by 10 weeks old was found in the 2020 cohort (1.2% vs. 0.5%. P = 0.046).
Conclusion: Vertical transmission of HIV at 10 weeks increased in the Cape Town Metropolitan during the initial COVID-19 lockdown. There was also an increase in the proportion of deaths without testing by 10 weeks in the 2020 group. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine
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Publication
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2024
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ISSN
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1608-9693
2078-6751
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DOI
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10.4102/SAJHIVMED.V25I1.1542
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Volume/pages
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25
:1
(2024)
, p. 1-8
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Article Reference
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a1542
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ISI
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001207029300001
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Pubmed ID
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38628908
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (open access)
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