Impact of coronavirus pandemic and containment measures on HIV diagnosis

Epidemiol Infect. 2020 Aug 24:148:e185. doi: 10.1017/S0950268820001867.

Abstract

During the last months and following the implementation of containment measures in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses radically decreased in Liege AIDS Reference Center, Belgium. The number of HIV screening tests has also dramatically dropped down to an unprecedented level. This decline of HIV diagnosis is caused by missed diagnoses of individuals infected before the establishment of such measures and to the reduction of high-risk sexual behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; HIV diagnosis; HIV screening.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Belgium
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • HIV Infections* / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections* / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections* / transmission
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sexual Behavior / statistics & numerical data