VANCOUVER – Reduced access to HIV services during early COVID-19 lockdowns in British Columbia was associated with a “sharp increase” in HIV transmission among some drug users, a new study says.
Study by University of British Columbia researchers says that while reduced social interaction during the March-May 2020 lockdown worked to reduce HIV transmission, it may not have “overcome” the increase caused by reduced access to services.
The study, published in Lancet Regional Health, found that fewer people started antiretroviral therapy for HIV or had viral load tests in confinement, while visits to overdose prevention services and safe drinking sites also went up. decrease
The total number of new HIV diagnoses in BC continues a decades-long decline.
But Dr Jeffrey Joy, lead author of the report published on Friday, said he found a “startling” increase in transmission among some drug users during the lockdown.
Transmission rates for these people had previously been fairly stable for about a decade, Joy said.
“This is because there has been good penetration of treatment and prevention services in these populations,” he said in an interview.
BC was a world leader in tracking outbreaks, which means the results are likely to be applicable elsewhere, Joy said.
“We’re in a unique position to find these things,” he said. “The reason I thought it was important to do this study and publish it is (because) it’s probably happening everywhere, but other places aren’t controlling their HIV epidemic the way we are.”
Rachel Miller, co-author of the report, said health authorities must consider innovative solutions so that measures “put in place to deal with one health crisis do not inadvertently worsen another”.
“These services are the first line of defense in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Many of them faced disruptions, shutdowns, capacity limits and other challenges,” Miller said in a news release.
“Maintaining access to and engagement with HIV services is absolutely essential to prevent the epidemic from rolling back and causing unnecessary harm.”
The Ministry of Health did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The increase among “select groups” could be attributed to a combination of factors, including housing instability and declining confidence, raising barriers for many people who would normally receive HIV services, the researchers said. .
British Columbia will become the first province in Canada to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of hard drugs in January, after receiving a temporary federal exemption in May.
Joy said this decision, along with measures such as safe supply and safe needle exchanges, will make a difference in preventing similar problems in the future.
“The take home message is that in times of crisis and public health emergencies or other crises, we need to support these really vulnerable populations more, not less,” he said.
“At the very least, we must give them continuity and access to the services they depend on. Otherwise, it only leads to problems that can have long-term consequences.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on September 24, 2022.
Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press