Abstract:
lthough an estimated 1.4 million women living with HIV (WHIV) are pregnant each year
globally, data describing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on postpartum women in
low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are limited. To address this gap, we conducted
phone surveys among 170 WHIV �18 years and 18–24 months postpartum enrolled in HIV
care at the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare in western Kenya, and
assessed the effects of the pandemic across health, social and economic domains. We
found that 47% of WHIV experienced income loss and 71% experienced food insecurity dur-
ing the pandemic. The majority (96%) of women reported having adequate access to antire-
troviral treatment and only 3% reported difficulties refilling medications, suggesting that the
program’s strategies to maintain HIV service delivery during the early phase of the pan-
demic were effective. However, 21% of WHIV screened positive for depression and 8% for
anxiety disorder, indicating the need for interventions to address the mental health needs of
this population. Given the scale and duration of the pandemic, HIV programs in LMICs
should work with governments and non-governmental organizations to provide targeted
support to WHIV at highest risk of food and income insecurity and their associated adverse
health outcomes