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Comparing HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, Testing, and New Diagnoses in Two Australian Cities with Different Lockdown Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Eric P. F. Chow

    (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
    Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
    Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia)

  • Jason J. Ong

    (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
    Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Basil Donovan

    (The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Rosalind Foster

    (The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
    Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia)

  • Tiffany R. Phillips

    (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
    Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Anna McNulty

    (Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
    School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Christopher K. Fairley

    (Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
    Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Australia introduced a national lockdown on 22 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Melbourne, but not Sydney, had a second COVID-19 lockdown between July and October 2020. We compared the number of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) prescriptions, HIV tests, and new HIV diagnoses during these lockdown periods. The three outcomes in 2020 were compared to 2019 using incidence rate ratio. There was a 37% and 46% reduction in PEP prescriptions in Melbourne and Sydney, respectively, with a larger reduction during lockdown (68% and 57% reductions in Melbourne’s first and second lockdown, 60% reduction in Sydney’s lockdown). There was a 41% and 32% reduction in HIV tests in Melbourne and Sydney, respectively, with a larger reduction during lockdown (57% and 61% reductions in Melbourne’s first and second lockdowns, 58% reduction in Sydney’s lockdown). There was a 44% and 47% reduction in new HIV diagnoses in Melbourne and Sydney, respectively, but no significant reductions during lockdown. The reduction in PEP prescriptions, HIV tests, and new HIV diagnoses during the lockdown periods could be due to the reduction in the number of sexual partners during that period. It could also result in more HIV transmission due to substantial reductions in HIV prevention measures during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric P. F. Chow & Jason J. Ong & Basil Donovan & Rosalind Foster & Tiffany R. Phillips & Anna McNulty & Christopher K. Fairley, 2021. "Comparing HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, Testing, and New Diagnoses in Two Australian Cities with Different Lockdown Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10814-:d:656561
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    Cited by:

    1. Manuel Reiriz & Macarena Donoso-González & Benjamín Rodríguez-Expósito & Sara Uceda & Ana Isabel Beltrán-Velasco, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Mental Health in Youth and Vulnerable Populations: An Extensive Narrative Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Dooyeon Lee & Eric P. F. Chow & Ivette Aguirre & Christopher K. Fairley & Jason J. Ong, 2021. "Access to HIV Antiretroviral Therapy among People Living with HIV in Melbourne during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-9, December.

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