“Cold turkey meds again”: Access to community HIV/AIDS services during public health emergencies
This paper works to explore the experiences of people living with HIV (PLWH) in relation to the closure of AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic and offers recommendations on how to ensure a continuum of care for PLWH during public health emergencies like...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558125000466 |
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| author | Darby Whittaker Erynn Monette Miesha Polintan Elijah Bisung |
| author_facet | Darby Whittaker Erynn Monette Miesha Polintan Elijah Bisung |
| author_sort | Darby Whittaker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper works to explore the experiences of people living with HIV (PLWH) in relation to the closure of AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic and offers recommendations on how to ensure a continuum of care for PLWH during public health emergencies like COVID-19. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with PLWH (n = 8) and ASO service providers (n = 8). Participants discussed their experiences with HIV services throughout the pandemic. Of the PLWH interviewed, individuals shared experiences of worsening mental health outcomes, difficulties accessing resources, disruption in medical care, and increased feelings of isolation. ASO service providers identified changes in their functions, increased barriers in service provision, and staff fatigue as challenges to their work. The results of this study demonstrate the need for reimagining HIV/AIDS and other service provisions during pandemics to ensure that resources remain accessible for PLWH and other marginalized populations. Essential ASO services to maintain a continuum of care during pandemic circumstances include prioritizing mental health supports, regular access to nutritious food, clothing, and financial support, and consistent check-ins between clients and service providers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b22f5503165a47ecaa288a3157db65df |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-5581 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| spelling | doaj-art-b22f5503165a47ecaa288a3157db65df2025-08-20T03:33:36ZengElsevierWellbeing, Space and Society2666-55812025-12-01910028010.1016/j.wss.2025.100280“Cold turkey meds again”: Access to community HIV/AIDS services during public health emergenciesDarby Whittaker0Erynn Monette1Miesha Polintan2Elijah Bisung3School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University, 28 Division Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T1P8, Canada; Corresponding author at: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3M7, Canada.School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University, 28 Division Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, CanadaSchool of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University, 28 Division Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, CanadaSchool of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University, 28 Division Street, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, CanadaThis paper works to explore the experiences of people living with HIV (PLWH) in relation to the closure of AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic and offers recommendations on how to ensure a continuum of care for PLWH during public health emergencies like COVID-19. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with PLWH (n = 8) and ASO service providers (n = 8). Participants discussed their experiences with HIV services throughout the pandemic. Of the PLWH interviewed, individuals shared experiences of worsening mental health outcomes, difficulties accessing resources, disruption in medical care, and increased feelings of isolation. ASO service providers identified changes in their functions, increased barriers in service provision, and staff fatigue as challenges to their work. The results of this study demonstrate the need for reimagining HIV/AIDS and other service provisions during pandemics to ensure that resources remain accessible for PLWH and other marginalized populations. Essential ASO services to maintain a continuum of care during pandemic circumstances include prioritizing mental health supports, regular access to nutritious food, clothing, and financial support, and consistent check-ins between clients and service providers.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558125000466HIV/AIDSCOVID-19AIDS Service OrganizationsCommunity-based researchMarginalized populations |
| spellingShingle | Darby Whittaker Erynn Monette Miesha Polintan Elijah Bisung “Cold turkey meds again”: Access to community HIV/AIDS services during public health emergencies Wellbeing, Space and Society HIV/AIDS COVID-19 AIDS Service Organizations Community-based research Marginalized populations |
| title | “Cold turkey meds again”: Access to community HIV/AIDS services during public health emergencies |
| title_full | “Cold turkey meds again”: Access to community HIV/AIDS services during public health emergencies |
| title_fullStr | “Cold turkey meds again”: Access to community HIV/AIDS services during public health emergencies |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Cold turkey meds again”: Access to community HIV/AIDS services during public health emergencies |
| title_short | “Cold turkey meds again”: Access to community HIV/AIDS services during public health emergencies |
| title_sort | cold turkey meds again access to community hiv aids services during public health emergencies |
| topic | HIV/AIDS COVID-19 AIDS Service Organizations Community-based research Marginalized populations |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558125000466 |
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