ISSN: 2576-0319
Authors: Simbarashe T*
Most researches are paying much attention on the negative effects of the COVID-19 to a larger extent and positive effects brought about by the COVID-19 epidemic to a lesser extent to the general populace. Few researches have explored on the COVID-19 pandemic of patients with chronic illnesses such as Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS. Thus, the researcher wanted to explore on effects of COVID-19 pandemic in relation to poor PLHIV. A case of a local (NGO) in waterfalls, Harare, Zimbabwe. Objectives of the study were to determine the psychological effects posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to poor PLHIV, ascertaining the social effects posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to poor PLHIV, establishing economic effects posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to poor PLHIV and exploring intervention strategies that can be utilized to carter for PLHIV in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. This study had a qualitative research approach, clearly making use of the phenomenological design of the research. The design of the phenomenological research was considered adequate. A total of 16 participants including boys, girls, males and females took part in the Focus Group Discussions in Hopley and Dzivarasekwa Main. The respondents were discharged PLHIV who were once admitted at the local (NGO) Care Unit as well those who received medical assistance through outreach programs. A heterogeneous type of sampling was found to be more appropriate, as this method is used to understand a wider range of viewpoints from participants that one is interested in researching. The researcher used focus group discussion interview guide and questions were semi structured in nature. The researcher utilised qualitative analysis, which includes analyzing qualitative data such as text data from interview transcript. Major findings of the study reviewed that PLHIV have mixed feelings towards getting vaccinated. Lockdown restrictions have brought more harm than good which have contributed in PLHIV defaulting ART treatment, causing psychological distress, diluting social cultural values of the society, rise in ill practices among the youth, impacting on the economic lives of PLHIV through affecting their informal businesses. As one of the recommendations, there is need to scale up psychological services to PLHIV and their affected families as most of them have undergone posttraumatic stress, unresolved bereavement, depression, anxiety, financial constraints and so forth. If these issues are not dealt with and resolved, they pose a greater risk of mental health disorders in the long-term post COVID-19 era given the predicament they are already in.
Keywords: WHO; Corona virus pandemic; Psychological distress; PLHIV; Mental health disorders
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