scholarly journals Accessing needed sexual health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Canada: a survey of sexual health service clients

2021 ◽  
pp. sextrans-2021-055013
Author(s):  
Mark Gilbert ◽  
Hsiu-Ju Chang ◽  
Aidan Ablona ◽  
Travis Salway ◽  
Gina Suzanne Ogilvie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Sexual Health Service ◽  
Service Models ◽  
Alternative Service ◽  
Alternative Service Delivery

ObjectivesWe assessed COVID-19 pandemic impacts on accessing needed sexual health services, and acceptability of alternative service delivery models, among sexual health service clients in British Columbia (BC), Canada.MethodsWe administered an online survey on 21 July–4 August 2020 to clients using a provincial STI clinic or internet-based testing service, GetCheckedOnline, in the year prior to March 2020. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with having unmet sexual health needs (ie, not accessing needed services) during March–July 2020 and the likelihood of using various alternative service models, if available.ResultsOf 1198 survey respondents, 706 (59%) reported needing any sexual health service since March 2020; of these 706, 365 (52%) did not access needed services and 458 (66%) had avoided or delayed accessing services. GetCheckedOnline users (univariate OR (uOR)=0.62; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.88) or clients with more urgent needs (eg, treatment for new STI, uOR 0.40 (95% CI 0.21 to 0.7)) had lower odds of unmet sexual health needs. The most common factors reported for avoiding or delaying access were public messaging against seeking non-urgent healthcare (234/662, 35%), concern about getting COVID-19 while at (214/662, 32%) or travelling to (147/662, 22%) a clinic or lab and closure of usual place of accessing services (178/662, 27%). All factors were positively associated with having unmet sexual health needs, with public messaging showing the strongest effect (adjusted OR=4.27 (95% CI 2.88 to 6.42)). Likelihood of using alternative sexual health service models was high overall, with the most appealing options being home self-collection kits (634/706, 90%), receiving test kits or antibiotics at home (592/700, 85%) and express testing (565/706, 80%).ConclusionsOf BC sexual health service clients needing services during March–July 2020, many had unmet needs. Offering alternative service delivery methods may help to improve access during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Partner number and use of COVID-19 risk reduction strategies during initial phases of the pandemic in British Columbia, Canada: a survey of sexual health service clients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Gilbert ◽  
Hsiu-Ju Chang ◽  
Aidan Ablona ◽  
Travis Salway ◽  
Gina Ogilvie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Sexual Health Service ◽  
Open Relationships ◽  
Bivariate Logistic Regression ◽  
Number Of Sexual Partners ◽  
Sex With Men

Abstract Objectives Initial public health guidance related to sex and COVID-19 infection focused on reducing partner number. We characterized individuals having a higher partner number during the initial phases of the pandemic. Methods In British Columbia, the initial wave of COVID-19 cases was from March 14 to May 19, 2020, followed by gradual lifting of public health restrictions. We conducted an e-mail survey of existing sexual health service clients during the period of July 23 to August 4, 2020. We used bivariate logistic regression to examine the association between the reported number of sexual partners since the start of the pandemic and key variables (level of significance p < 0.01). Results Of the 1196 clients in our final sample, 42% reported 2+ partners since the start of the pandemic, with higher odds among participants who were men who have sex with men, and single or in open relationships prior to the pandemic. This group was more likely to perceive stigma associated with having sex during the pandemic, and had the highest use of strategies to reduce risk of COVID-19 infection during sexual encounters (mainly focused on reducing/avoiding partners, such as masturbation, limiting sex to a “bubble”, and not having sex). Conclusion Sexual health service clients in BC with 2+ partners during the initial phases of BC’s pandemic used strategies to reduce their risk of COVID-19 infection during sex. Our study provides support for a harm reduction approach to guidance on COVID-19 risk during sex, and highlights the need for further research on stigma related to having sex during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chlamydia at an inner metropolitan sexual health service in Sydney, NSW: Australian Collaboration for Chlamydia Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance (ACCESS) Project

Sexual Health ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Franklin ◽  
Catherine C. O'Connor ◽  
Miranda Shaw ◽  
Rebecca Guy ◽  
Andrew Grulich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
National Level ◽  
Sentinel Surveillance ◽  
Chlamydia Testing ◽  
National Rate ◽  
Sexual Health Service ◽  
Access Project

Background: Australia has a widely dispersed network of public sexual health services that test large numbers of people from high prevalence populations for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection. These populations include young sexually active heterosexuals, men who have sex with men, sex workers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Australian Collaboration for Chlamydia Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance (ACCESS) Project was established to monitor chlamydia testing rates and positivity rates at a national level, which in turn will help interpret trends in chlamydia diagnoses reported through passive surveillance. The ACCESS Project is the first time that chlamydia-related data including priority population and testing denominators has been collated at a national level. The present paper reports on chlamydia testing and positivity rates in a sexual health service in the inner west of Sydney between 2004 and 2008 and compares these to published national data from the ACCESS Project in sexual health services. Methods: Chlamydia positivity and testing rates at an inner western Sydney sexual health service were compared with aggregate data from the ACCESS Project obtained from 14 sexual health services across Australia. Using a standardised extraction program, retrospective de-identified line-listed demographic and chlamydia testing data on all patients were extracted from patient management systems. Results: Over the 5-year period, 5145 new patients attended the inner-west sexual health service. Almost 66% had a chlamydia test at first visit and there was no significant difference in this testing rate when compared with the ACCESS Project national rate for sexual health services (67.0%; odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% confidence intervals 0.88–1.00). The testing rate increased over time from 61% in 2004 to 70% in 2008. There were 281 chlamydia diagnoses at this service, giving an overall chlamydia positivity rate of 9.3%, significantly higher than the ACCESS Project national rate of 8.2% (OR 1.16, 95% confidence intervals 1.02–1.32). Discussion: Testing rates were similar and positivity rates for Chlamydia trachomatis were higher in this sexual health service in Sydney than national trends.

scholarly journals Self-rated mental health among sexual health service clients during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, British Columbia, Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 153 ◽  
pp. 106789
Author(s):  
Travis Salway ◽  
Aidan Ablona ◽  
Hsiu-Ju Chang ◽  
Sarah Watt ◽  
Catherine Worthington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sexual Health Service

scholarly journals P105 A bespoke sexual health service for transgender people is highly acceptable and meets the broader health needs of this population

2016 ◽  
Vol 92 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A55.3-A56
Author(s):  
Bethan Machado ◽  
Kate Nambiar ◽  
Tamara Woodroffe ◽  
Alison Parnell ◽  
Daniel Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Transgender People ◽  
Sexual Health Service

scholarly journals Do gay and bisexual men who conceal their same-sex behavior prefer different kinds of health services? Findings across four cities to inform client-centered HIV prevention in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Fu ◽  
Bryan A. Kutner ◽  
Yumeng Wu ◽  
Lu Xie ◽  
Siyan Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Sex Behavior ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sexual Health Service

Abstract Background In China, addressing disparities in the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) requires targeted efforts to increase their engagement and retention in prevention. In an effort to advance MSM-friendly HIV services within China, and informed by community-based partnerships, we tested whether MSM who have ever versus never disclosed their same-sex behavior to healthcare providers (HCP) differ in sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics as well as the qualities of sexual health services each group would prefer to access. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among HIV-negative MSM who went to MSM-focused voluntary counseling and testing clinics in four cities in China. The survey was anonymous and collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, testing behaviors, sexual-health related behavior, and sexual health service model preferences. Results Of 357 respondents, 68.1% participants had ever disclosed same-sex behavior to HCPs when seeking advice for sexual health. Younger age (aOR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01-1.08), and worry of HIV acquisition (aOR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.05–1.84) were associated with higher odds of past disclosure. The availability of comprehensive sexual health services was one of the most valued characteristics of the ideal sexual health clinic. Those who ever disclosed and never disclosed differed significantly in their ranking of the importance of three out of ten dimensions: sexual health counseling services available (M = 3.99 vs. M = 3.65, p = .002), gay identity support available (M = 3.91 vs. M = 3.62, p = .016) and clinic collaborates with a gay CBO (M = 3.81 vs. M = 3.56, p = .036). Conclusions Our hypothesis that MSM who had disclosed versus never disclosed same-sex behavior would differ in the value they placed on different dimensions of sexual health service was partially borne out. As health authorities in China decide on implementation models for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery and specifically within which institutions to integrate PrEP services, the preferences of target populations should be considered to develop comprehensive, patient-centric and LGBT-friendly services.

scholarly journals Designing an intervention to improve sexual health service use among university undergraduate students: a mixed methods study guided by the behaviour change wheel

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Cassidy ◽  
Audrey Steenbeek ◽  
Donald Langille ◽  
Ruth Martin-Misener ◽  
Janet Curran
Keyword(s):  
Health Service ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Behaviour Change Wheel ◽  
Sexual Health Service ◽  
University Undergraduate Students

Abstract Introduction University undergraduate students are within the population at highest risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy, and other negative health outcomes. Despite the availability of sexual health services at university health centres, many students delay or avoid seeking care. In this study, we describe how the Behaviour Change Wheel was used as a systematic approach to design an intervention to improve sexual health service use among university undergraduate students. Methods This paper describes the intervention development phase of a three-phased, sequential explanatory mixed methods study. Phases one and two included a quantitative and qualitative study that aimed to better understand students’ use of sexual health services. In phase three, we followed the Behaviour Change Wheel to integrate the quantitative and qualitative findings and conduct stakeholder consultation meetings to select intervention strategies, including intervention functions and behaviour change techniques. Results Key linkages between opportunity and motivation were found to influence students’ access of sexual health services. Stakeholders identified six intervention functions (education, environmental restructuring, enablement, modelling, persuasion, and incentivization) and 15 behaviour change techniques (information about health consequences, information about social and environmental consequences, feedback on behaviour, feedback on outcomes of behaviour, prompts/cues, self-monitoring of behaviour, adding objects to the environment, goal setting, problem solving, action planning, restructuring the social environment, restructuring the physical environment, demonstration of the behaviour, social support, credible source) as relevant to include in a toolbox of intervention strategies to improve sexual health service use. Conclusions This study details the use of the Behaviour Change Wheel to develop an intervention aimed at improving university students’ use of sexual health services. The Behaviour Change Wheel provided a comprehensive framework for integrating multiple sources of data to inform the selection of intervention strategies. Stakeholders can use these strategies to design and implement sexual health service interventions that are feasible within the context of their health centre. Future research is needed to test the effectiveness of the strategies at changing university students’ sexual health behaviour.

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