VIH dans la zone de santé de Bandalungwa à Kinshasa

Abstract

Background: People living with HIV (PLHIV) are a priority category for Covid-19 vaccination. With limited data on the willingness of PLHIV to receive Covid-19 vaccines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this study described the acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccine and the factors associated with this acceptance among PLHIV.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among PLHIV followed in 5 HIV care establishments in the Bandalungwa health zone in Kinshasa from April 15 to May 5, 2023. Data on acceptance defined as willingness to accept the Covid-19 vaccine were collected using a questionnaire administered by the investigators. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with acceptance of Covid-19 vaccination.

Results: A total of 393 PLHIV were included, with a median age of 41 years (interquartile range 32 to 51 years), 234 (59.5%) were female. Among them, 223 (or 56.7%) declared having received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. So, 170 respondents were unvaccinated and 98 (57.6%) among them were willing to accept vaccination. Overall, 321 PLHIV (81.7%) were in favor of vaccination against Covid-19. Acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccine was associated with the presence of other chronic diseases apart from HIV (OR = $0.232$ $IC95\%$: [$0.081 - 0.663$]), confidence in the Covid-19 vaccine (OR = $61$ $IC95\%$: [$26.71 - 139.33$]), as well as with the age groups 25 to 34 (OR = $4.33$ $IC95\%$: [$1.23 - 15.20$]) and 35 to 49 (OR = $3.86$ $IC95\%$: [$1.22 - 12.21$]).

Conclusion: Acceptance of vaccination against Covid-19 was high among PLHIV in the Bandalungwa health zone in Kinshasa while vaccination coverage was still low. It’s therefore necessary to put in place strategies aimed at strengthening awareness among people with comorbidities in general and with HIV in particular.