Influence of paired pandemic of COVID-19 and HIV infection on pregnant women and children: A challenging issue.
Naina Kumar, Mishu Mangla
Abstract
COVID-19 infection started in China in December 2019 and was declared a global pandemic of international concern by the WHO in March 2020. With rapid spread of infection worldwide, health systems and health care programs came to a standstill, leaving essential services such as antenatal care and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comprehensive care for children and pregnant women completely devastated. Furthermore, due to lockdowns, children and pregnant women living with HIV were forced to stay at home with no access to health facilities, loss of follow-up, and discontinuation of antiretroviral drugs therapy. The present review briefs concerning the impact of COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS pandemics on children and pregnant women worldwide.