Who accessed STI testing in Britain during the COVID-19 pandemic and how: Findings from Natsal-COVID, a cross-sectional quasi-representative survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, online sexual health service delivery increased across Britain. We investigated inequalities in STI testing access and methods of access during the first year of the pandemic.

Methods

Natsal-COVID, an online-survey of people 18-59 years in Britain, explored sexual health experiences in the first year of the pandemic. We describe the socio-demographics of participants who used STI testing services and compare those who reported being "online service users", defined as using services with no direct clinician interactions (regardless of whether they also used other methods), with those who were exclusively "other service users", defined as face-to-face, telephone, or video calls.

Results

246/6,064 participants (4.2%) reported STI

SUBMITTER: Marquez NG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11481401 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature