COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupts HIV Monitoring in Rural Lesotho

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the University of Lesotho and Partners in Health conducted a study to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on viral load and CD4 monitoring for people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in rural Lesotho. The study found that the pandemic led to a significant disruption in HIV monitoring, resulting in lower rates of viral load suppression and CD4 counts. The research team analyzed routine data from seven Ministry of Health health centers supported by Partners in Health from March 2017 to February 2023 and observed that the pandemic had a significant impact on HIV monitoring, with viral load suppression rates decreasing from 15.8% before the pandemic to 11.1% after the pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted HIV monitoring in rural Lesotho, leading to lower rates of viral load suppression and CD4 counts.
  • The study found that the pandemic had a significant impact on HIV monitoring, with viral load suppression rates decreasing from 15.8% before the pandemic to 11.1% after the pandemic.
  • The research team analyzed routine data from seven Ministry of Health health centers supported by Partners in Health from March 2017 to February 2023.
  • The study highlighted the importance of measures and communication introduced into the viral load and CD4 monitoring during the pandemic outbreak to sustain viral load suppression and reduce new HIV transmission.
  • The research was conducted by Afom T. Andom, Partners in Health - Lesotho, and a team of researchers from the University of Lesotho and Partners in Health.
  • The study was published in the journal BMC Infectious Diseases, with the title "Evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on viral load and CD4 monitoring for people living with HIV on ART in rural Lesotho."

Statistics:

  • 22% of Lesotho's population lives with HIV (Source: World Health Organization).
  • The study found that viral load suppression rates decreased from 15.8% before the pandemic to 11.1% after the pandemic (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases).
  • CD4 counts decreased significantly during the pandemic, with 11.1% of patients having a CD4 count of 200 or higher (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases).
  • The study analyzed data from seven Ministry of Health health centers supported by Partners in Health from March 2017 to February 2023 (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases).

Sources:

  • Andom, Afom T., et al. (2025). Evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on viral load and CD4 monitoring for people living with HIV on ART in rural Lesotho. BMC Infectious Diseases, 25(1):1330.
  • World Health Organization. (2020). HIV/AIDS: Lesotho.