Policies enacted during COVID-19 came with unintended health benefits: why go back?

BMC Health Serv Res. 2023 May 16;23(1):496. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09448-x.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the impact of COVID-19 on the implementation of bundled interventions to improve the engagement and retention of Black women in HIV care.

Methods: Pre-implementation interviews conducted between January and April 202 L with 12 demonstration sites implementing bundled interventions for Black women with HIV. Directed content analysis was employed to examine the site interview transcripts.

Results: The pandemic intensified barriers to care and harmful social conditions. However, COVID-19 also forced pivots in health care and social service delivery and some of these changes benefited Black women living with HIV.

Conclusions: The continuation of policies that support the material needs of Black women with HIV and ease access to care is critical. Racial capitalism impedes the enactment of these policies and thus threatens public health.

Keywords: Black women with HIV; COVID-19; Policies that promote health; Racial capitalism.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Black People
  • Black or African American
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Female
  • HIV Infections*
  • Humans
  • Policy
  • Public Health