Sex Transm Dis. 2022 Jul 14. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001675. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has coincided with an explosion of on-line platforms for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) testing using self-collected, mail-in specimens. Reports on the effect of COVID-19-associated restrictions on sexual behaviors have been mixed, but STI transmissions have continued during the pandemic. We sought to understand the pandemic impact on sexual habits associated with STIs among IWantTheKit (IWTK) users.
METHODS: Users of IWTK, a free, on-line STI testing platform, were invited to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe survey responses. Associations with reports of new sex partnerships were explored as a marker of STI risk. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze individual characteristics and reported behaviors associated with self-reported new sexual partnerships during the first two COVID-19 pandemic waves.
RESULTS: Of the 3,462 users of the on-line STI testing platform between June 2020 and February 2021, 1,088 (31.4%) completed the on-line survey; 705 (66.2%) of 1,065 reported a new sex partner. One-quarter met their sex partners using Apps. Overall, 10% were symptomatic and almost 18% were concerned that their partner had an STI. White race in males (OR 1.81 [95%CI:1.04, 3.16]), female age < 25 years (OR 1.85 [95%CI:1.09, 3.14]), and increased condom use in both men and women were significantly associated with reports of new sexual partnerships in adjusted analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite pandemic restrictions on social gatherings, new sexual partnerships were common in this population, associated with common risk factors, and may help to explain ongoing STI transmission.
PMID:35830655 | DOI:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001675
