Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic Visits

Tao, Jun; Napoleon, Siena; Maynard, Michaela; Almonte, Alexi; Silva, Elizabeth; Toma, Emily; Chu, Christina; Cormier, Kevin; Strong, Sabrina H.; Chan, Philip A.

doi:10.1097/olq.0000000000001306

Cited by 64 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“… 12 , 14 Emerging evidence in Oregon, California, and Georgia is also consistent with the declines in STD reporting observed in this report. 15 - 17 Some researchers have documented starker declines in STD testing among asymptomatic clients when compared to symptomatic cases. 18 The findings in this study are consistent with this notion given the largest decrease in STD reporting was observed among chlamydial cases, which are largely detected through routine screenings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Sexual Health Care Utilization and STD Reporting, Maricopa County

Bell

Canepa

Kreis

et al. 2021

INQUIRY

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The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Clinic remained operational during a 6-week statewide Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Stay-at-Home Order. The present study sought to evaluate the effect of the Stay-at-Home Order on countywide STD reporting and uptake of sexual health services. We compared countywide daily median STD reporting and MCDPH STD clinic attendance across 3 timeframes; (1) Pre-Lockdown (01/01/2020–03/30/2020); (2) Lockdown (03/31/2020–05/15/2020); and (3) Post-Lockdown (05/16/2020–12/31/2020). STD reporting was characterized as incident chlamydia, gonorrhea, and primary and secondary syphilis. Clinic attendance was characterized as clients visiting through express testing or provider visits. Differences in STD reporting and clinic attendance were evaluated using non-parametric testing. Comparing Pre-Lockdown to Lockdown, we observed significant declines in the daily median chlamydia case reporting (−22%) and clinic express testing attendance (−29%). Comparing Lockdown to Post-Lockdown, we observed significant increases in daily median chlamydia and gonorrhea case reporting (+20%, +15%; respectively) and clinic express testing and provider visits (+42%, +20%; respectively). No significant difference was observed in countywide syphilis reporting across the 3 timeframes. Declines in STD reporting were observed countywide during the lockdown and were concurrent with declines in attendance observed at the MCDPH STD Clinic. Maintenance of clinic operations during the lockdown allowed for continued uptake of STD testing, diagnosis, treatment, and partner services. This study of sexual health care utilization at the public STD clinic in Maricopa County, Arizona, found reduced testing and provider visits contributed to lower countywide STD reporting during the Arizona COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Sexual Health Care Utilization and STD Reporting, Maricopa County

Bell

Canepa

Kreis

et al. 2021

INQUIRY

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“…Access to sexual health services was much reduced during 2020. 19 Changes to the definition of reported cases by RKI could also have played a part in reporting, making comparison with previous years difficult. 12…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, diagnosis of other conditions such as HIV and syphilis depends on a much greater extent of physician referral, meaning that these conditions were much more greatly influenced by restrictions to sexual health services during 2020. 19 Testing for gonorrhoea is routinely offered by sexual health clinics, and can even be done postally. Additionally, symptoms for other STIs only become apparent some time following infection, meaning influence of mobility changes on case numbers would not be as apparent as for those where symptom onset is rapid such as gonorrhoea.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social mobility and gonorrhoea in Germany during 2020

Sulyok

Walker

2021

Sex Transm Infect

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ObjectivesThe incidence of STIs is likely to be related to levels of social activity and mobility. Novel datasets detailing levels of social activity were made widely available during the COVID-19 pandemic. These allow the relationship between activity and STI incidence to be examined.MethodsThe correlation between social activities and the reported number of gonorrhoea cases between March and December 2020 in Germany was studied. Regression through Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) time series modelling identified those activities associated with case numbers.ResultsARIMA regression identified a significant association with ‘transit’ activity within the Apple data and ‘parks’ within Google.ConclusionsThis study illustrates the potential newly available measures of social activity provided for STI research. Reductions in STI incidence are likely to have occurred due to COVID-19 social restrictions. Although other studies report reductions in infectious diseases during this period, few examine the potential social factors mediating this. The results illustrate the continual need for sexual health services throughout the pandemic.

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“…It also accentuated the inequities and may have worsened disparities due to lack of means to participate in virtual care, such as a capable device, internet access, or technology literacy. Many HIV and sexual health clinics halted their in-person visits, interrupting the care continuum for HIV as well as limiting access to inperson sexual health services for STI screening and management [10][11][12]. The abrupt shift to telemedicine allowed care to continue, but there were declines in linkage and retention in HIV care, antiretroviral starts, and viral suppression rates at HIV clinics in the USA and globally [13,14].…”

Section: Covid-19 Impact On Hiv and Sexual Healthcarementioning

confidence: 99%

HIV and COVID-19: Lessons From HIV and STI Harm Reduction Strategies

Gravett

Marrazzo

2021

Curr HIV/AIDS Rep

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Purpose of Review This review highlights the intersection of the COVID-19, HIV, and STI pandemics and examines how harm reduction strategies can be applied broadly to controlling a pandemic. Recent Findings Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, remarkable advances in the understanding of COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, and treatment have been made at a much faster pace than prior pandemics, yet much more still remains to be discovered. Many of the strategies to control the COVID-19 pandemic mirror those employed to stem the HIV pandemic. Summary Harm reduction principles used in the HIV pandemic can be applied to reduce the morbidity and mortality of the COVID-19 pandemic through effective prevention, detection, and treatment strategies.

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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic Visits

Cited by 64 publications

References 6 publications

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Sexual Health Care Utilization and STD Reporting, Maricopa County

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Sexual Health Care Utilization and STD Reporting, Maricopa County

Social mobility and gonorrhoea in Germany during 2020

HIV and COVID-19: Lessons From HIV and STI Harm Reduction Strategies

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