biostudies-literatureNakawooya HNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and AlcoholismNational Institute of Mental Health and NeurosciencesNational Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteBill and Melinda Gates FoundationNational Institutes of Health Fogarty International Centere0293711https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11469503biostudies-literatureUnknown19(10)<h4>Background</h4>Understanding the impact of natural disasters on the HIV epidemic in populations with high HIV burden is critical for the effective delivery of HIV control efforts. We assessed HIV risk behaviors, seroprevalence, and viral suppression in a high HIV prevalence Lake Victoria fishing community before and after COVID-19 emergence and lockdown and a severe lake flooding event, both of which occurred in 2020.<h4>Methods</h4>We used data from the largest Lake Victoria fishing community in the Rakai Community Cohort Study, an open population-based HIV surveillance cohort in south-central Uganda. The data were collected both prior to (September-December 2018) and after (October-December 2021) COVID-19 emergence and a severe flooding event. Households impacted by flooding were idePloS oneImpact of natural disasters on HIV risk behaviors, seroprevalence, and virological supression in a hyperendemic fishing village in Uganda.PMC11469503D43TW010557R01HD091003OPP1175094R01MH099733, R01MH105313, R01MH107275, R01MH115799(R01AI114438, K25AI114461, R01AI123002, K01AI125086, R01AI128779, R01AI143333, R21AI145682, R01AI155080K01AA024068R01HL152813Kigozi GLutalo TSsempijja VSerwadda DReynolds SJNakawooya HW Chang LNalugoda FSsekubugu RH Gray RYeh PTGrabowski MKKagaayi JNdyanabo AJ Wawer MfalseImpact of natural disasters on HIV risk behaviors, seroprevalence, and virological supression in a hyperendemic fishing village in Uganda.<h4>Background</h4>Understanding the impact of natural disasters on the HIV epidemic in populations with high HIV burden is critical for the effective delivery of HIV control efforts. We assessed HIV risk behaviors, seroprevalence, and viral suppression in a high HIV prevalence Lake Victoria fishing community before and after COVID-19 emergence and lockdown and a severe lake flooding event, both of which occurred in 2020.<h4>Methods</h4>We used data from the largest Lake Victoria fishing community in the Rakai Community Cohort Study, an open population-based HIV surveillance cohort in south-central Uganda. The data were collected both prior to (September-December 2018) and after (October-December 2021) COVID-19 emergence and a severe flooding event. Households impacted by flooding were ide2024-01-01T00:00:00Z20242025-04-04T11:04:34.534Z2025-04-04T11:04:34.534ZS-EPMC114695033939280310.1371/journal.pone.0293711