Haley Cooper, Susan Reif, Elena Wilson, Dafina Ward
{"title":"The COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact on Southern HIV Service Organizations, Staff, and Clients.","authors":"Haley Cooper, Susan Reif, Elena Wilson, Dafina Ward","doi":"10.1521/aeap.2022.34.4.333","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated HIV-related disparities and has likely disrupted service provision by organizations providing critical HIV-related services, especially in the U.S. Deep South, an area disproportionately affected by HIV. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on organizations providing services for people living with HIV and/or sexual and gender minorities throughout the Deep South, an online survey was developed and disseminated from January to June 2021 regarding service disruption, organizational changes and needs, and staff and client impact and needs. Organizations reported ongoing organization-level financial and structural complications, staff difficulties including mental health challenges and lack of technology proficiency, and exacerbated challenges for clients including increased mental health concerns, substance use, and housing instability, among others. Organizations will need to be supported as they navigate the exacerbated mental health challenges of clients and staff as well as financially supported as they address economic disparities related to the pandemic.</p>","PeriodicalId":47801,"journal":{"name":"Aids Education and Prevention","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Aids Education and Prevention","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2022.34.4.333","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated HIV-related disparities and has likely disrupted service provision by organizations providing critical HIV-related services, especially in the U.S. Deep South, an area disproportionately affected by HIV. To assess the impact of COVID-19 on organizations providing services for people living with HIV and/or sexual and gender minorities throughout the Deep South, an online survey was developed and disseminated from January to June 2021 regarding service disruption, organizational changes and needs, and staff and client impact and needs. Organizations reported ongoing organization-level financial and structural complications, staff difficulties including mental health challenges and lack of technology proficiency, and exacerbated challenges for clients including increased mental health concerns, substance use, and housing instability, among others. Organizations will need to be supported as they navigate the exacerbated mental health challenges of clients and staff as well as financially supported as they address economic disparities related to the pandemic.
期刊介绍:
Presenting state-of-the-art research and information, AIDS Education and Prevention is a vital addition to the library collections of medical schools, hospitals, and other institutions and organizations with HIV/AIDS research programs. The journal integrates public health, psychosocial, sociocultural, and public policy perspectives on issues of key concern nationally and globally.