"Life mapping" exploring the lived experience of COVID-19 on access to HIV treatment and care in Malawi [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
Background The COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi exacerbated, existing public health challenges including access to HIV treatment and care services. “Life Mapping,” a component of the Citizen Science community-led project in Malawi, documented the lived experiences and perspectives of people living with H...
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F1000 Research Ltd
2024-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://gatesopenresearch.org/articles/8-70/v2 |
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| author | Ruby T. Zolowere Jane Harries Krista Lauer Khokhelwa Zokwana Solange L. Baptiste Jelena Bozinovski |
| author_facet | Ruby T. Zolowere Jane Harries Krista Lauer Khokhelwa Zokwana Solange L. Baptiste Jelena Bozinovski |
| author_sort | Ruby T. Zolowere |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi exacerbated, existing public health challenges including access to HIV treatment and care services. “Life Mapping,” a component of the Citizen Science community-led project in Malawi, documented the lived experiences and perspectives of people living with HIV in the context of COVID-19. Methods Citizen Science Life Maps is a three-year qualitative, longitudinal project utilizing collaborative and participatory research methods through digital storytelling to document peoples’ daily lives. Twenty participants living with HIV were recruited between 2022 and 2023 in two central regional districts of Malawi and two urban areas. The participants were given mobile smart phones to document the impact of COVID-19 on HIV prevention and treatment services, HIV treatment literacy, mental health and the COVID -19 vaccine. Data was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results Access to HIV prevention and treatment slowly recovered yet introducing multi-month anti- retroviral dispensing raised concerns. In the absence of mental health care services, participants were resourceful in seeking alternative ways to deal with mental health. However, state sponsored violence in relation to COVID-19 public health measures impacted negatively not only on mental well-being but also on HIV treatment adherence. Whilst most recognized the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine, especially for people living with HIV, myths, misinformation, and conspiracy theories around the vaccine persisted especially religious themed misinformation. Conclusions The relationship between misinformation and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is complex and medical and scientific approaches may not be sufficient to prevent misinformation. Fear and misinformation are likely attributed to global uncertainty during the pandemic and the speed at which vaccines were developed with minimal opportunity to prepare global communities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-862106e500c543c2a84bdaf2073efae3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2572-4754 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gates Open Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-862106e500c543c2a84bdaf2073efae32025-08-20T02:00:08ZengF1000 Research LtdGates Open Research2572-47542024-09-01810.12688/gatesopenres.15927.217686"Life mapping" exploring the lived experience of COVID-19 on access to HIV treatment and care in Malawi [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]Ruby T. Zolowere0Jane Harries1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7359-8419Krista Lauer2Khokhelwa Zokwana3Solange L. Baptiste4Jelena Bozinovski5International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Johannesburg, 2196, South AfricaUniversity of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Western Cape, 7700, South AfricaInternational Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Johannesburg, 2196, South AfricaInternational Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Johannesburg, 2196, South AfricaInternational Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Johannesburg, 2196, South AfricaInternational Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Johannesburg, 2196, South AfricaBackground The COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi exacerbated, existing public health challenges including access to HIV treatment and care services. “Life Mapping,” a component of the Citizen Science community-led project in Malawi, documented the lived experiences and perspectives of people living with HIV in the context of COVID-19. Methods Citizen Science Life Maps is a three-year qualitative, longitudinal project utilizing collaborative and participatory research methods through digital storytelling to document peoples’ daily lives. Twenty participants living with HIV were recruited between 2022 and 2023 in two central regional districts of Malawi and two urban areas. The participants were given mobile smart phones to document the impact of COVID-19 on HIV prevention and treatment services, HIV treatment literacy, mental health and the COVID -19 vaccine. Data was analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results Access to HIV prevention and treatment slowly recovered yet introducing multi-month anti- retroviral dispensing raised concerns. In the absence of mental health care services, participants were resourceful in seeking alternative ways to deal with mental health. However, state sponsored violence in relation to COVID-19 public health measures impacted negatively not only on mental well-being but also on HIV treatment adherence. Whilst most recognized the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine, especially for people living with HIV, myths, misinformation, and conspiracy theories around the vaccine persisted especially religious themed misinformation. Conclusions The relationship between misinformation and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is complex and medical and scientific approaches may not be sufficient to prevent misinformation. Fear and misinformation are likely attributed to global uncertainty during the pandemic and the speed at which vaccines were developed with minimal opportunity to prepare global communities.https://gatesopenresearch.org/articles/8-70/v2Qualitative Research Participatory Research COVID-19 HIV treatment Malawieng |
| spellingShingle | Ruby T. Zolowere Jane Harries Krista Lauer Khokhelwa Zokwana Solange L. Baptiste Jelena Bozinovski "Life mapping" exploring the lived experience of COVID-19 on access to HIV treatment and care in Malawi [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] Gates Open Research Qualitative Research Participatory Research COVID-19 HIV treatment Malawi eng |
| title | "Life mapping" exploring the lived experience of COVID-19 on access to HIV treatment and care in Malawi [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full | "Life mapping" exploring the lived experience of COVID-19 on access to HIV treatment and care in Malawi [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_fullStr | "Life mapping" exploring the lived experience of COVID-19 on access to HIV treatment and care in Malawi [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_full_unstemmed | "Life mapping" exploring the lived experience of COVID-19 on access to HIV treatment and care in Malawi [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_short | "Life mapping" exploring the lived experience of COVID-19 on access to HIV treatment and care in Malawi [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] |
| title_sort | life mapping exploring the lived experience of covid 19 on access to hiv treatment and care in malawi version 2 peer review 2 approved |
| topic | Qualitative Research Participatory Research COVID-19 HIV treatment Malawi eng |
| url | https://gatesopenresearch.org/articles/8-70/v2 |
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