The impact of Covid-19 on sexual risk behaviour for HIV acquisition in east Zimbabwe

An observational study

Bibliographic Data

ID19591335
AuthorsRebekah Morris (0000-0002-5740-6963, Imperial College London, corresponding author), Sarah Gregson (0000-0003-2707-0714, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Rufurwokuda Maswera (0000-0003-2199-7113, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Louisa Moorhouse (0000-0002-9674-0462, Imperial College London, corresponding author), Tawanda Dadirai (Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Phyllis Mandizvidza (Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Brian Moyo (0000-0002-2164-5460, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, corresponding author), Owen Mugurungi (0000-0001-7779-5583, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, corresponding author), Constance Nyamukapa (0000-0001-6779-4069, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author)
EditorsGiridhara R Babu (0000-0003-4370-8933)
Year2024
Volume4
Issue7
Pagese0003194
Publication date2024-07-17
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0003194
PMID39018312
OpenAlexW4400726709
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited27

The Covid-19 pandemic and associated restrictions have the potential to alter sexual risk behaviours for HIV acquisition with important implications for HIV prevention programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. To date, no large-scale data have been published to substantiate hypothesised changes in sexual risk behaviours. We used longitudinal survey data to assess the impact of Covid-19 on sexual risk behaviours in east Zimbabwe. Data on sexual behaviours in HIV-negative adults aged 15–54 years were collected in two rounds of a general population open-cohort survey conducted in Manicaland, Zimbabwe shortly before (July 2018 to December 2019; N = 7316) and several months into the Covid-19 epidemic (February to July 2021; N = 6356). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models of serial cross-sectional and prospective cohort data were used to assess changes in sexual risk behaviours. The proportion of females aged 15–19 years reporting sexual debut declined from 29.7% before Covid-19 to 20.3% during Covid-19 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.49, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.38–0.63). Fewer sexually-active females reported multiple sexual partners during Covid-19 (3.35% versus 6.07%; AOR = 0.55, 95% CI, 0.43–0.72). No population-level changes in male behaviour between survey rounds were recorded but the cohort analysis revealed a complex pattern of behaviour change with HIV risk behaviours increasing for some individuals and decreasing for others. Overall HIV risk behaviours remained high in a sub-Saharan African population with a generalised HIV epidemic over a period of Covid-19 lockdowns when movements and social contacts were restricted

Cohort · Cohort study · Confidence interval · Disease · Environmental health · Logistic regression · Odds ratio · Pandemic · Population · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Sex work and related issues · Internal Medicine

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