Changes in Testing and Diagnoses of Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Jennifer J. Chang, Qiaoling Chen, Jodie Dionne-Odom, Rulin C. Hechter, Katia J. Bruxvoort
Abstract
ABSTRACT: We evaluated changes in rates of testing and diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections during the 2017-2020 period at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, we observed profound reductions in testing and fewer diagnoses of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV compared with prepandemic periods, but syphilis diagnoses rates increased by 32%.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineMedical diagnosisSyphilisPandemicHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)Sexually transmitted diseaseCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)PediatricsEpidemiologyViral diseaseVirologyMEDLINEReproductive tract infections researchSyphilis Diagnosis and TreatmentCervical Cancer and HPV Research