How did COVID-19 measures impact sexual behaviour and access to HIV/STI services in Panama? Results from a national cross-sectional online survey

Gabster, Amanda; Erausquin, Jennifer Toller; Michielsen, Kristien; Mayaud, Philippe; Pascale, Juan Miguel; Escalé, Carles Pericas; Marks, Michael; Katz, Jennifer; Talavero, Gonzalo Cabezas; Argote, Marilu de; Murillo, Anet; Tucker, Joseph D.

doi:10.1101/2021.02.03.21251095

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 26 publications

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“…Despite some researchers finding decreased self-reported sexual encounters during COVID-19 measures, others have demonstrated no changes in risky sexual behaviors among specific populations. 11 , 12 Moreover, researchers have also documented significant increases in frequency of sexual intercourse during the pandemic. 13 Evidence therefore is unclear on whether reduced sexual transmission played a large role in the observed decreases in STD reporting.…”

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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Love in Quarantine: Sexting, Stress, and Coping During the COVID-19 Lockdown

et al. 2021

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Introduction This study investigated the relationships of pandemic-related stress and coping strategies with different kinds of sexting (i.e., experimental, risky, and emotional) during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Italian context. Methods A sample of 1929 emerging adults (Mage = 24.17, SDage = 2.75; 71.6% girls) completed an online survey about their sexting behaviors during the national lockdown in Italy. Data were gathered in April/May 2020, from 6th to 11th week of home confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic. Hierarchical regression and mediation analyses were performed. Results Pandemic-related stress directly predicted only risky and emotional sexting. Experimental and emotional sexting were positively predicted by social support, and negatively predicted by turning to religion. Risky and emotional sexting were positively predicted by avoidance, and negatively predicted by problem solving. Adaptive coping (i.e., social support) mediated the relationships from pandemic-related stress to both experimental and emotional sexting. Maladaptive coping (i.e., avoidance and problem solving) mediated the relationships from pandemic related-stress to risky and emotional sexting. Conclusions Sexting was a coping tool during COVID-19 lockdown, showing both adaptive and maladaptive facets. Policy Implications Findings suggest new directions for implementing programs of sexual education and safer Internet use targeted to young people.

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A Network Comparison of Motives behind Online Sexual Activities and Problematic Pornography Use during the COVID-19 Outbreak and the Post-Pandemic Period

Jiang

Hong

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Many researchers have considered whether online sexual activities (OSAs) increased over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether these have led to an increase in problematic pornography use (PPU). This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on PPU through pornography use motivations (PUMs) and OSAs to develop a better understanding of the mechanism and changes affecting PPU. Two groups of Chinese adults were recruited during the initial months of the pandemic (April 2020, n1 = 496) and the post-pandemic period (October 2021, n2 = 504). A network analysis was conducted to compare the structures of PPU symptoms among the two groups. The results showed that PUMs and OSAs were stronger predictors of PPU during the pandemic than post-pandemic (R2pandemic = 57.6% vs. R2post-pandemic = 28.7%). The motives of fantasy, sexual pleasure, stress reduction, and self-exploration were the prominent motivations during these two periods, but we found distinct PPU-related communities. PPU, sexual pleasure, and viewing sexually explicit materials (a type of OSAs) constituted a community during the pandemic but not in the post-pandemic’s network. The present study indicated that the pandemic may not have been the only factor impacting the higher rate of PPU. Instead, the higher frequency of OSAs during the pandemic may have been a strategy to cope with stress and to safely satisfy sexual desire.

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How did COVID-19 measures impact sexual behaviour and access to HIV/STI services in Panama? Results from a national cross-sectional online survey

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 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

Love in Quarantine: Sexting, Stress, and Coping During the COVID-19 Lockdown

A Network Comparison of Motives behind Online Sexual Activities and Problematic Pornography Use during the COVID-19 Outbreak and the Post-Pandemic Period

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