'We are not going anywhere': a qualitative study of Kenyan healthcare worker perspectives on adolescent HIV care engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) may be vulnerable to widescale impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to health system responses which impact HIV care. We assessed healthcare worker (HCW) perspectives on impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent HIV care delivery and engagement in western Kenya.

Methods

We performed in-depth qualitative interviews with HCW at 10 clinical sites in the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare in Kenya, from January to March, 2021. Semistructured interviews ascertained pandemic-related impacts on adolescent HIV care delivery and retention.

Results

Interviews were conducted with 22 HCWs from 10 clinics. HCWs observed adolescent financial hardships, unmet basic needs and school dropouts during the pandemic, with so

SUBMITTER: Enane LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8968109 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature