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The COVID-19 pandemic and concomitant lockdown restrictions in South Africa pose critical challenges for adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and on ART, impacting their ability to remain engaged in care and adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Not only has this pandemic directly impacted the health care that ALHIV receive, but it has also consequently had devastating effects on society and has negatively affected the mental health and well-being of ALHIV. The challenges associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disadvantaged groups such as ALHIV on ART need to be further explored as it may offer hope to ALHIV and restore confidence in the health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents living with HIV are a key population who are susceptible to poor health. The global coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and widespread national COVID-19 restrictions has disrupted health service delivery and HIV support services, affecting treatment adherence among adolescents with HIV., Aim: This study aimed to review the available literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HIV treatment of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa., Method: Seven online databases were searched for articles published between 2020 and 2022 that focused on the impact of COVID-19 on adolescents living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. A data charting extraction form and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocol (PRISMA) flowchart were used for screening and reporting the articles in this review. A narrative synthesis was conducted., Results: Five overarching themes emerged from the articles in this review, which highlighted the mental, social, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the impact of the reallocation of healthcare services and challenges to accessing HIV care services on the antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence of adolescents living with HIV., Conclusion: The global COVID-19 pandemic affected adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa in many ways, but very little research has been done to describe the various ways in which the physical and mental well-being of adolescents were impacted., Contribution: The findings of this review can be used to further inform policies and interventions aimed at the care and well-being of adolescents on antiretroviral therapy within sub-Saharan Africa., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article., (© 2023. The Authors.)

The COVID-19 pandemic and concomitant lockdown restrictions in South Africa pose critical challenges for adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and on ART, impacting their ability to remain engaged in care and adherent to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Not only has this pandemic directly impacted the health care that ALHIV receive, but it has also consequently had devastating effects on society and has negatively affected the mental health and well-being of ALHIV. The challenges associated with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disadvantaged groups such as ALHIV on ART need to be further explored as it may offer hope to ALHIV and restore confidence in the health system., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: Brian Van Wyk et al.)