Award
NIH Reporter #4RF1MH130238-04
When are in-person HIV services worth the risk of COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses? Optimizing choices when virtual services are less effective
Recipient
New York University School of Medicine, NY, United States
Award Amount
$1,375,435.00
Ceiling
$1,375,435.00
Awarded
August 19, 2025
Identifier
4RF1MH130238-04
This award funds research to evaluate the trade-offs between in-person and virtual HIV services in sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to optimize service delivery by assessing effectiveness and transmission risks to guide policy decisions.
Description
During the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV services in sub-Saharan Africa have been adapted to lower-contact alternatives that reduce exposure to SARS-CoV-2, which maintained the effectiveness of some services but reduced the effectiveness of others. For services with reduced effectiveness, program data will be analyzed to determine the extent of reduction, and observations and modeling will estimate potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission while accessing services in different ways. The project works with global, national, and local decision-makers to inform policies about when, and for whom, lower-contact services should be offered during the COVID-19 pandemic.