TY - JOUR

T1 - “Condoms are hard to get by”: Access to HIV prevention methods during lockdown of the COVID-19 epidemic in eastern Zimbabwe

AU - Skovdal, Morten

AU - Maunzagona, Tanyaradzwa

AU - Dzamatira, Freedom

AU - Magoge-Mandizvidza, Phyllis

AU - Maswera, Rufurwokuda

AU - Moyo, Brian Kumbirai

AU - Nyamukapa, Constance

AU - Gregson, Simon

N1 - doi: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2206207

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - BackgroundIn the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health services were disrupted worldwide, including HIV prevention services. While some studies have begun to document the effects of COVID-19 on HIV prevention, little has been done to qualitatively examine how lockdown measures were experienced and perceived to affect access to HIV prevention methods in sub-Saharan Africa.ObjectivesTo explore how the COVID-19 pandemic was perceived to affect access to HIV prevention methods in eastern Zimbabwe.MethodThis article draws on qualitative data from the first three data collection points (involving telephone interviews, group discussions, and photography) of a telephone and WhatsApp-enabled digital ethnography. Data were collected from 11 adolescent girls and young women and five men over a 5-month period (March–July 2021). The data were analysed thematically.ResultsParticipants reported widespread interruption to their condom supply when beerhalls were shut down as part of a nationwide lockdown. Restrictions in movement meant that participants who could afford to buy condoms from larger supermarkets or pharmacies were unable to. Additionally, the police reportedly refused to issue letters granting permission to travel for the purpose of accessing HIV prevention services. The COVID-19 pandemic was also described to obstruct the demand (fear of COVID-19, movement restrictions) and supply (de-prioritised, stock-outs) for HIV prevention services. Nonetheless, under certain formal and informal circumstances, such as accessing other and more prioritised health services, or ‘knowing the right people’, some participants were able to access HIV prevention methods.ConclusionPeople at risk of HIV experienced the COVID-19 epidemic in Zimbabwe as disruptive to access to HIV prevention methods. While the disruptions were temporary, they were long enough to catalyse local responses, and to highlight the need for future pandemic response capacities to circumvent a reversal of hard-won gains in HIV prevention.

AB - BackgroundIn the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health services were disrupted worldwide, including HIV prevention services. While some studies have begun to document the effects of COVID-19 on HIV prevention, little has been done to qualitatively examine how lockdown measures were experienced and perceived to affect access to HIV prevention methods in sub-Saharan Africa.ObjectivesTo explore how the COVID-19 pandemic was perceived to affect access to HIV prevention methods in eastern Zimbabwe.MethodThis article draws on qualitative data from the first three data collection points (involving telephone interviews, group discussions, and photography) of a telephone and WhatsApp-enabled digital ethnography. Data were collected from 11 adolescent girls and young women and five men over a 5-month period (March–July 2021). The data were analysed thematically.ResultsParticipants reported widespread interruption to their condom supply when beerhalls were shut down as part of a nationwide lockdown. Restrictions in movement meant that participants who could afford to buy condoms from larger supermarkets or pharmacies were unable to. Additionally, the police reportedly refused to issue letters granting permission to travel for the purpose of accessing HIV prevention services. The COVID-19 pandemic was also described to obstruct the demand (fear of COVID-19, movement restrictions) and supply (de-prioritised, stock-outs) for HIV prevention services. Nonetheless, under certain formal and informal circumstances, such as accessing other and more prioritised health services, or ‘knowing the right people’, some participants were able to access HIV prevention methods.ConclusionPeople at risk of HIV experienced the COVID-19 epidemic in Zimbabwe as disruptive to access to HIV prevention methods. While the disruptions were temporary, they were long enough to catalyse local responses, and to highlight the need for future pandemic response capacities to circumvent a reversal of hard-won gains in HIV prevention.

U2 - 10.1080/16549716.2023.2206207

DO - 10.1080/16549716.2023.2206207

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37133235

VL - 16

JO - Global Health Action

JF - Global Health Action

SN - 1654-9716

IS - 1

ER -