Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review
BackgroundSocial distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to sexual health services (SHS) worldwide. During the first year of the pandemic, Lebanon implemented multiple lockdowns during which SHS endured repetitive closures. We explore the impact of the pandemic on SHS...
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2024
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39191 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402415222X http://hdl.handle.net/10576/64519 |
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| _version_ | 1857415084423249920 |
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| author | Sunji, Nadine |
| author2 | Boufadel, Peter Fakih, Iman Ahmad, Jana Haidar Choufani, Mathieu Habib, Nabih Rizk, Jean-Paul Yammine, Ryan Abu Zaki, Sara Assi, Ayman Abu-Raddad, Laith J. Fahme, Sasha Mumtaz, Ghina R. |
| author2_role | author author author author author author author author author author author author |
| author_facet | Sunji, Nadine Boufadel, Peter Fakih, Iman Ahmad, Jana Haidar Choufani, Mathieu Habib, Nabih Rizk, Jean-Paul Yammine, Ryan Abu Zaki, Sara Assi, Ayman Abu-Raddad, Laith J. Fahme, Sasha Mumtaz, Ghina R. |
| author_role | author |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv | Sunji, Nadine Boufadel, Peter Fakih, Iman Ahmad, Jana Haidar Choufani, Mathieu Habib, Nabih Rizk, Jean-Paul Yammine, Ryan Abu Zaki, Sara Assi, Ayman Abu-Raddad, Laith J. Fahme, Sasha Mumtaz, Ghina R. |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv | 2024-10-30 2025-04-28T05:15:50Z |
| dc.format.none.fl_str_mv | application/pdf |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39191 24058440 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402415222X http://hdl.handle.net/10576/64519 20 10 |
| dc.language.none.fl_str_mv | en |
| dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv | Elsevier |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv | Sexually transmitted infections COVID-19 Sexual behavior Lebanon |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv | Article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
| description | BackgroundSocial distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to sexual health services (SHS) worldwide. During the first year of the pandemic, Lebanon implemented multiple lockdowns during which SHS endured repetitive closures. We explore the impact of the pandemic on SHS delivery and the diagnosis rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among attendees of a large sexual health clinic in Beirut, Lebanon. MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of the clinic's database, including data on voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We compared the number and types of services provided, and the number and rate of positive VCT diagnoses pre- (Mar 2019–Feb 2020) and post- (Mar 2020–Feb 2021) COVID-19 onset. ResultsMen who have sex with men (MSM) comprised 35 % and 40 % of attendees pre- and post- COVID-19 onset, respectively. Post-COVID-19 onset, a total of 1350 VCT services and 406 medical consultations were provided, an overall 45 % decrease compared with pre-COVID-19 onset. The prevalence pre-COVID-19 onset of HIV, syphilis, HBV, and HCV was 0.8 %, 0.3 %, 0.2 %, and 0.1 %, respectively, and post-COVID-19 onset 1.2 %, 0.7 %, 0.3 %, and 0.3 %, respectively. Post-COVID-19 onset, 1.7 % of patients tested positive for any STI compared with 1.1 % pre-COVID-19 onset (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 0.8–2.7). Close to 90 % of all positive diagnoses were among MSM. The prevalence of HIV, syphilis, HBV, and HCV among MSM in the total sample was 2.1 %, 1.2 %, 0.4 %, and 0.3 %, respectively. ConclusionCOVID-19 related closures led to substantial reduction in SHS accessibility among clinic attendees. STI positivity rates increased post-COVID-19 onset, although this increase was not statistically significant. Findings suggest that sexual risk behavior was taking place during the pandemic despite the lockdowns and highlight the need to minimize disruptions in provision of SHS during similar crises, particularly to key populations. |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| format | article |
| id | qu_a07806aa4f318af32cbd73e33aa988ee |
| identifier_str_mv | 24058440 20 10 |
| language_invalid_str_mv | en |
| network_acronym_str | qu |
| network_name_str | Qatar University repository |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:qspace.qu.edu.qa:10576/64519 |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher.none.fl_str_mv | Elsevier |
| repository.mail.fl_str_mv | |
| repository.name.fl_str_mv | |
| repository_id_str | |
| rights_invalid_str_mv | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| spelling | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart reviewSunji, NadineBoufadel, PeterFakih, ImanAhmad, Jana HaidarChoufani, MathieuHabib, NabihRizk, Jean-PaulYammine, RyanAbu Zaki, SaraAssi, AymanAbu-Raddad, Laith J.Fahme, SashaMumtaz, Ghina R.Sexually transmitted infectionsCOVID-19Sexual behaviorLebanonBackgroundSocial distancing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to sexual health services (SHS) worldwide. During the first year of the pandemic, Lebanon implemented multiple lockdowns during which SHS endured repetitive closures. We explore the impact of the pandemic on SHS delivery and the diagnosis rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among attendees of a large sexual health clinic in Beirut, Lebanon. MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of the clinic's database, including data on voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We compared the number and types of services provided, and the number and rate of positive VCT diagnoses pre- (Mar 2019–Feb 2020) and post- (Mar 2020–Feb 2021) COVID-19 onset. ResultsMen who have sex with men (MSM) comprised 35 % and 40 % of attendees pre- and post- COVID-19 onset, respectively. Post-COVID-19 onset, a total of 1350 VCT services and 406 medical consultations were provided, an overall 45 % decrease compared with pre-COVID-19 onset. The prevalence pre-COVID-19 onset of HIV, syphilis, HBV, and HCV was 0.8 %, 0.3 %, 0.2 %, and 0.1 %, respectively, and post-COVID-19 onset 1.2 %, 0.7 %, 0.3 %, and 0.3 %, respectively. Post-COVID-19 onset, 1.7 % of patients tested positive for any STI compared with 1.1 % pre-COVID-19 onset (OR: 1.5, 95%CI: 0.8–2.7). Close to 90 % of all positive diagnoses were among MSM. The prevalence of HIV, syphilis, HBV, and HCV among MSM in the total sample was 2.1 %, 1.2 %, 0.4 %, and 0.3 %, respectively. ConclusionCOVID-19 related closures led to substantial reduction in SHS accessibility among clinic attendees. STI positivity rates increased post-COVID-19 onset, although this increase was not statistically significant. Findings suggest that sexual risk behavior was taking place during the pandemic despite the lockdowns and highlight the need to minimize disruptions in provision of SHS during similar crises, particularly to key populations.This publication was supported with funding from the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) through UKRI/ESRC for the ‘RECAP’ project (ES/P010873/1). GRM and LJA acknowledge support by the Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council [ARG01-0524-230321]. This publication was also made possible by funding by the Biomedical Research Program at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar. The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the funders.Elsevier2025-04-28T05:15:50Z2024-10-30Articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e3919124058440https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402415222Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/645192010enhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:qspace.qu.edu.qa:10576/645192025-04-28T19:10:32Z |
| spellingShingle | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review Sunji, Nadine Sexually transmitted infections COVID-19 Sexual behavior Lebanon |
| status_str | publishedVersion |
| title | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review |
| title_full | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review |
| title_short | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review |
| title_sort | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review |
| topic | Sexually transmitted infections COVID-19 Sexual behavior Lebanon |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39191 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402415222X http://hdl.handle.net/10576/64519 |