HIV SITUATION IN BICOL REGION: LIVED EXPERIENCES OF PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV AMID PANDEMIC

On March 16, 2020, a Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was imposed, restricting people’s movement to control the spread of COVID -19. Unknown to many, while the walls to keep most people safe, a certain population group were barred access to life saving medications. These are the persons living with HIV (PLHIV). The study is focused on exploring the lived experiences of PLHIVs and to develop recommendations to be able to immediately respond to their situations in the middle of thinning down health system, impacted by the pandemic. Specifically, to find answers to: what is the situation of PLHIVs; what are the challenges faced by PLHIVs; what the coping mechanisms of the PLHIVs are, and; what possible measures can be derived from their experiences. This is qualitative research which looked into the lived experiences of eight PLHIVs in Bicol region, through one-on-one interview. Two key informant interviews and the review of related literatures was done to support the experiences. Ultimately, the experiences of the participants were used to draw recommendations in improving HIV programming and services amid pandemic, using ecological models in public health. The study revealed that: most PHLIVs live outside the area where their treatment hubs are located, and that with forced border restrictions imposed, accessing live saving medications is impossible; more than the COVID-19, PLHIVs’ mental health were more affected by the having no access to their anti-retroviral medications; most of PLHIVs were laid off from their source of income, and; some PLHIVs were locked down in locations outside their actual residences. With very few functional treatment hubs in the Bicol region, PLHIVs coped in their recent situation through: family and community support provided emotional and psychological comfort; community-based groups providing assistance to PLHIVs were supportive in bridging gaps in the HIV programming and services. It is highly recommended to strengthen the ecological elements around the PLHIVs in particular along intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional and public policy levels. Series of online educational discussions to mental health and HIV situation can be done to influence PLHIVs’ intrapersonal and interpersonal response to their social and health situation. Equally important is for community-based groups and local governments, including national agencies, to enact healthy public programs and policies which can promote or constrain behaviors, likewise, support health actions to respond to the thinning down public HIV programs, as most health programs shifted to COVID-19 response.

Key words: Persons Living with HIV, SRHR, Covid-19 and HIV, sexual health