IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ANTIRETROVIRAL (ARV) SERVICES IN HEALTH FACILITY: AN ONLINE SURVEY IN INDONESIA

Abstract

A regulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 such as Large-scale Social Restriction (PSBB) may disrupt health services, including ARV services, which is needed by Person Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 on ARV supply in health facilities by conducting an online questionnaire. This study used an online questionnaire which was appended with a respondent’s consent form and conducted during August-September 2020. The unit analysis of this study was health facilities which provided ARV services. Out of 41 health facilities, more than 30% experiences decreased in ARV users, most only provided ARV stock to PLHIV for less than 1 month, and 44% experience delay of ARV supplies in all region and hospitals. There is a significant difference between adequacy of ARV stock provided to PLHIV before and during first 6 months of COVID-19 (p<0.05). Therefore, strategic planning and programs that focused on punctuality in distribution and availability of ARV supplies are necessary to ensure the continuation of medication in PLHIV.