Access to sexual and reproductive health services among South African young people living with and without HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic

Danielle Giovenco; Audrey Pettifor; Gina Itzikowitz; Stephanie Chung; Yamkela Qayiya; Anna E Kȧgesten; Anna Mia Ekström; Linda-Gail Bekker

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110119

Access to sexual and reproductive health services among South African young people living with and without HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic

Contraception. 2023 Oct:126:110119. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110119. Epub 2023 Jul 17.

Authors

Danielle Giovenco¹, Audrey Pettifor², Gina Itzikowitz³, Stephanie Chung⁴, Yamkela Qayiya³, Anna E Kȧgesten⁵, Anna Mia Ekström⁶, Linda-Gail Bekker³

Affiliations

¹ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Epidemiology, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Emory University, Department of Epidemiology, Atlanta, GA, United States; Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address: danielle.giovenco@emory.edu.
² University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Epidemiology, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
³ Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁴ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
⁵ Karolinska Institutet, Department of Global Public Health, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁶ Karolinska Institutet, Department of Global Public Health, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases/Venhälsan, South General Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

PMID: 37467919
DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110119

Abstract

Objective: To examine sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service access among South African young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study design: We utilized cross-sectional data collected from February to October 2021 in Cape Town among young people 13-24 years of age living with and without HIV.

Results: Two hundred and fifteen young people living with HIV (YPLWH) and 320 young people living without HIV were included. Young people reported an unmet need for SRH services during COVID-19, and 28% of YPLWH reported missing an HIV care appointment during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Conclusions: Expanding access to SRH services for young people during disruptive events is critical to reduce disparities in HIV and other SRH outcomes.

Keywords: Adolescent; COVID-19; HIV; Sexual and reproductive health; Young people living with HIV; Young women.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
COVID-19*
Communicable Disease Control
Cross-Sectional Studies
HIV Infections* / epidemiology
Humans
Pandemics
Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health Services*
Sexual Behavior
South Africa / epidemiology