1. COVID-19, fear and sexual behaviour: a survey in a tertiary STI clinic in Lisbon
- Author
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Ana Luísa João, André Lencastre, Joana Calvão, Ana Maria Rodrigues, and Cândida Fernandes
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,2019-20 coronavirus outbreak ,Telemedicine ,Adolescent ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Sexual Behavior ,Sexually Transmitted Diseases ,sexual health ,MEDLINE ,Dermatology ,Care provision ,Tertiary Care Centers ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Epidemiology ,Research Letter ,medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Reproductive health ,disease transmission ,030505 public health ,Portugal ,SARS-CoV-2 ,business.industry ,Incidence (epidemiology) ,sexual behaviour ,COVID-19 ,Fear ,Middle Aged ,infectious ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Infectious Diseases ,Family medicine ,0305 other medical science ,business - Abstract
COVID-19 lockdowns impose constraints on sexual health services and related medical activities. Our STI clinic favoured telemedicine as advised by specialist societies,1 illustrating the feasibility of maintaining STI care provision during a state of emergency. Recommendations regarding changes to sexual behaviour were also provided.2 At least theoretically, lockdown could lead to behavioural changes and a reduction in the risk of STIs. To date, published reports indicate that during the lockdown of Spring 2020, STI incidence was either comparable3 or reduced4 5 relative to previous years. Whether the apparent reduction indicates a true epidemiological change or rather an underestimation due to lack of presentation for diagnosis remains to be determined. We therefore aimed to explore the effect of the exceptional challenges imposed by lockdowns on human behaviour and sexual health. The cross-sectional study was conducted in a drop-in …
- Published
- 2021
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