Delays in Sexual Health Care Among Patients Attending New York City Sexual Health Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March 2020 to February 2021.

BACKGROUND

Public health emergencies can lead to reduced or suspended services in sexual health clinics (SHCs), raising questions about optimal ways to maintain access to care. We examined changes in sexual behaviors, human immunodeficiency virus preexposure prophylaxis use, telehealth preference, and correlates of delayed sexual health care among patients attending New York City (NYC) publicly funded SHCs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Four hundred seventy patients from four SHCs (July to September 2021) completed a self-administered survey that collected data on access to sexual health care, overall and over three distinct periods (spring 2020 (COVID-19 wave 1), summer 2020, fall 2020/winter 2021 [COVID-19 wave 2]). We used log-binomial models to examine factors associated with delayed sexual health care.

RESULTS

Participants reporting multiple in-person sexual contacts increased from 28% to 57% ( P < 0.0001) between the first and second wave. Almost half of participants (35/72) taking HIV PrEP cited decreased use. Over 90% (423/460) of participants preferred in-person clinic visits over telehealth. Overall, delays in routine and urgent sexual health care were reported by 34% (129/375) and 12% (46/373) of participants, respectively. More men who have sex with men and transgender/gender nonconforming/nonbinary individuals experienced delayed care compared with women (men who have sex with men: adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-2.03; transgender/gender nonconforming/nonbinary: adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 1.67; 95% CI, 1.04-2.69). Compared with participants who primarily sought sexual health care from private providers, those who primarily used SHCs experienced significantly more delayed care (aPR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.14-2.59).

CONCLUSIONS

Delays in sexual health care access can have serious implications for certain patient populations. Additional resources are needed to maintain access to sexual health clinic services.