Stress, Support, and Length of Diagnosis Among Women Living with HIV/AIDS in the Southern USA, During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: Health-related challenges caused and worsened by the global COVID-19 pandemic have proven broad and multifaceted, particularly for racial/ethnic minority women living with HIV (WLWH). The 2020 pandemic has affected the wellbeing and access to care for WLWH in Southeastern Florida, a region that experienced simultaneous high rates of COVID-19 and HIV. WLWH, over a short- or long-term period, likely utilize different coping mechanisms as they face these challenges. METHODS: This analysis compared pandemic-related stress and support endorsed by participants attending an urban clinic in South Florida, from January through May 2021. Participants completed an adapted version of the Pandemic Stress Index (PSI). The items in the PSI assessed emotional distress, stigma, and support, and were dichotomized, as either “stress” or “support”. Mann–Whitney U-test assessed differences in distributions of PSI scores (stress and support) comparing long-term survivors (≥10 years with an HIV diagnosis) to those more recently diagnosed (<10 years). RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 63 WLWH, aged 21–71 (Mean = 42 years±12.95). The group of WLWH were almost evenly split, with 50.8% having been diagnosed in the last 10 years (short-term survivors). The high-stress group endorsed lower levels of support, compared to the low-stress group. There was a non-significant trend of higher stress scores for short-term survivors, compared to long-term survivors; and, higher support scores for long-term survivors, compared to short-term survivors. CONCLUSION: Results suggest a trend in long-term survivor WLWH endorsing lower stress and higher support; the contrary was found for their short-term survivor counterparts. Patterns in COVID-19 related stressors and maladaptive behaviors need further exploration to establish suitable interventions that address disparities within groups of WLWH.