Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of adolescents living with HIV aged 10-15 years and their families in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND

Adolescents living with HIV are particularly vulnerable to disruptions caused by public health emergencies. This study assessed the perceived impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors on adolescents living with HIV aged 10-15 years and their families in Vietnam.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 587 adolescents living with HIV 10-15 years who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at five central and provincial hospitals between June 2020 and December 2021 using a structured questionnaire. Perceived impacts of COVID-19 across multiple life domains were measured using a five-point Likert scale. To identify associated factors chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 35.9% of participants reported a significant overall perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among adolescents residing in Ho Chi Minh City the odds of experiencing a significant overall perceived impact were higher compared to (aOR 18.8, 95% CI 5.9-60.0), Quang Ninh (aOR 5.9, 95% CI 1.2-28.6) and other provinces outside the hospitals' catchment areas (aOR 4.9, 95% CI 1.6-14.9). Increased odds were also found among those taking ART twice daily (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.5); those living in households with 3-4 members (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.3-6.5) or ≥ 5 members (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6.1); those without home ownership (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.3); and those whose caregivers reported a need for social support (aOR 4.6, 95% CI 2.8-7.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were reported among adolescents living with HIV and their families, underscoring the vulnerability of this population during public health emergencies. Interventions addressing both individual- and family-level needs are needed to strengthen resilience and mitigate the effects of future pandemics.