Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-based testing for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections in the WHO European Region, March to August 2020

Abstract Background COVID-19 affected testing for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide. We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-based voluntary, counselling and testing (CBVCT) services for those infections in the WHO European Region....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of public health 2023-06, Vol.33 (3), p.528-535
Main Authors: Fernàndez-López, Laura, Simões, Daniel, Casabona, Jordi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Closure
Community
Counseling
COVID-19
Disease transmission
Economic analysis
Government agencies
Hepatitis
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Impact analysis
Infections
Pandemics
Public health
Regions
Respondents
Self testing
Services
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Surveys
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Summary:Abstract Background COVID-19 affected testing for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide. We aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community-based voluntary, counselling and testing (CBVCT) services for those infections in the WHO European Region. Methods An online survey was distributed between 14 October and 13 November 2020 to testing providers in the WHO European Region. Key questions included: impact on testing volume, reasons for this impact, measures to mitigate, economic effects, areas where guidance or support were needed. A descriptive analysis on data reported by CBVCT services was performed. Results In total, 71 CBVCT services from 28 countries completed the survey. From March to May 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, most respondents reported a very major decrease (>50%) in the volume of testing for all the infections, ranging from 68% (Chlamydia) to 81% (HCV), and testing levels were not recovered during post-confinement. Main reasons reported were: site closure during lockdown (69.0%), reduced attendance and fewer appointments scheduled (66.2%), reduced staff (59.7%), and testing only by appointment (56.7%). Measures implemented to mitigate the decreased testing were remote appointments (64.8%), testing by appointment (50.7%), referral to other sites (33.8%), testing campaigns (35.2%) and promotion of self-testing (36.6%). Eighty-two percent of respondents reported a need for guidance/support. Conclusion Results suggest that people attending CBVCT services experienced reductions in access to testing compared to before the pandemic. National governmental agencies need to support European CBVCT services to ensure recovery of community counselling and testing.
ISSN:1101-1262
1464-360X
DOI:10.1093/eurpub/ckad010