COVID and HIV: Psychological impact and awareness of COVID-19 in young people with HIV

30 Oct, 2020

Authors: S. Bernardi1, E. Mozzo, M. Di Pastena, F. Leone, C. Novello, A. Oletto, N. Cotugno, P. Zangari, P. Palma, V. Santilli, P. Palma, O. Rampon, C. Giaquinto

Published in: 12th National Congress of Italian Conference on AIDS and Antiviral Research

Background: Public health emergencies may affect the health, safety, and well-being of both individuals and communities. These effects may translate into a range of emotional reactions and unhealthy behaviours. Some people may be more vulnerable than others to the psychosocial effects of pandemics. Young people living with HIV can experience solitude, depression and anxiety as a consequence of the stigma that continues to surround HIV and the daily challenge of living with a chronic infection. We investigated the psychological impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic among a group of HIV-infected young people and assessed their knowledge on HIV and COVID-19 infections.