TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual Behavior and Its Determinants During COVID-19 Restrictions Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Amsterdam
AU - van Bilsen, Ward P. H.
AU - Zimmermann, Hanne M. L.
AU - Boyd, Anders
AU - Coyer, Liza
AU - van der Hoek, Lia
AU - Kootstra, Neeltje A.
AU - Hoornenborg, Elske
AU - Prins, Maria
AU - Schim van der Loeff, Maarten F.
AU - Davidovich, Udi
AU - Matser, Amy
N1 - Funding Information:
The Amsterdam Cohort Study is financially supported by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
Funding Information:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS) on HIV infection, a collaboration between the Public Health Service of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam UMC, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Medical Center Jan van Goyen, and the HIV Focus Center of the DC-Clinics. It is part of the Netherlands HIV Monitoring Foundation and financially supported by the Center for Infectious Disease Control of the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. The authors thank all ACS participants for their contribution, as well as the ACS study nurses (Leeann Storey and Kees de Jong), data managers (Ertan Ersan and Dominique Loomans), and laboratory technicians.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/3/1
Y1 - 2021/3/1
N2 - Objective: To investigate the impact of Dutch COVID-19 restrictions on sexual behavior and HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition among men who have sex with men (MSM) participating in the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS) on HIV in Amsterdam. Methods: ACS participants complete a questionnaire on sexual behavior and are tested for HIV/STI biannually. They may also be tested at the STI clinic in-between study visits. On May 29, 2020, ACS participants were invited to complete an online questionnaire on health, COVID-19 risk perceptions, and sexual behavior. Determinants of reporting casual sex partners (CSP) during COVID-19 restrictions were examined using logistic regression. Results: Of 683 MSM, 353 (52%; median age, 47 years; interquartile range, 38-53 years) completed the questionnaire. Since COVID-19, 73% reported a reduction in the number of CSP. CSP during COVID-19 restrictions were reported by 133 MSM (38%) and, in multivariable analysis, was associated with not having a college/university degree, being single, lower perceived importance of avoiding COVID-19, number of CSP before COVID-19, and current preexposure prophylaxis use (P , 0.05 for all). During COVID-19 restrictions, no HIV infections were diagnosed, and the STI positivity rate was 8%. Conclusion: Since COVID-19, the number of CSP decreased among MSM, and there may have been a temporary reduction in HIV/STI transmission. Some MSM were not fully compliant to social distancing regulations and reported CSP, which was related to prior sexual behavior and low perceived importance of avoiding COVID-19. For these men, it is important to maintain accessible HIV/STI-related testing and care during times of lockdown.
AB - Objective: To investigate the impact of Dutch COVID-19 restrictions on sexual behavior and HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition among men who have sex with men (MSM) participating in the Amsterdam Cohort Studies (ACS) on HIV in Amsterdam. Methods: ACS participants complete a questionnaire on sexual behavior and are tested for HIV/STI biannually. They may also be tested at the STI clinic in-between study visits. On May 29, 2020, ACS participants were invited to complete an online questionnaire on health, COVID-19 risk perceptions, and sexual behavior. Determinants of reporting casual sex partners (CSP) during COVID-19 restrictions were examined using logistic regression. Results: Of 683 MSM, 353 (52%; median age, 47 years; interquartile range, 38-53 years) completed the questionnaire. Since COVID-19, 73% reported a reduction in the number of CSP. CSP during COVID-19 restrictions were reported by 133 MSM (38%) and, in multivariable analysis, was associated with not having a college/university degree, being single, lower perceived importance of avoiding COVID-19, number of CSP before COVID-19, and current preexposure prophylaxis use (P , 0.05 for all). During COVID-19 restrictions, no HIV infections were diagnosed, and the STI positivity rate was 8%. Conclusion: Since COVID-19, the number of CSP decreased among MSM, and there may have been a temporary reduction in HIV/STI transmission. Some MSM were not fully compliant to social distancing regulations and reported CSP, which was related to prior sexual behavior and low perceived importance of avoiding COVID-19. For these men, it is important to maintain accessible HIV/STI-related testing and care during times of lockdown.
KW - COVID-19
KW - HIV
KW - Men who have sex with men
KW - STI
KW - Sexual behavior
KW - Social distancing
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85102090953
U2 - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002581
DO - 10.1097/QAI.0000000000002581
M3 - Article
C2 - 33230027
SN - 1525-4135
VL - 86
SP - 288
EP - 296
JO - Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)
JF - Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)
IS - 3
ER -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 5 Gender Equality