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Delabre RM, Di Ciaccio M, Lorente N, Villes V, Castro Avila J, Yattassaye A, Bonifaz C, Ben Moussa A, Sikitu IZ, Khodabocus N, Freitas R, Spire B, Veras MA, Sagaon-Teyssier L, Girard G, Roux P, Velter A, Delpech V, Ghosn J, Riegel L, Rojas Castro D. Impact of the COVID-19 Health Crisis on Key Populations at Higher Risk for, or Living With, HIV or Hepatitis C Virus and People Working With These Populations: Multicountry Community-Based Research Study Protocol (EPIC Program). JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e45204. [PMID: 38096016 PMCID: PMC10755648 DOI: 10.2196/45204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information concerning the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on populations most affected by HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV; or key populations [KP]), and those working with these populations in community settings, is limited. Community-based organizations working in the field of HIV and viral hepatitis are well placed to identify and meet the new needs of KP owing to the health crisis. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the development and implementation of an exploratory and descriptive multicountry, community-based research program, EPIC (Enquêtes Pour évaluer l'Impact de la crise sanitaire covid en milieu Communautaire), within an international network of community-based organizations involved in the response to HIV and viral hepatitis. The EPIC program aimed to study the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on KP or people living with HIV or HCV and people working with these populations at the community level (community health workers [CHWs]) and to identify the key innovations and adaptations in HIV and HCV services. METHODS A general protocol and study documents were developed and shared within the Coalition PLUS network. The protocol had a built-in flexibility that allowed participating organizations to adapt the study to local needs in terms of the target population and specific themes of interest. Data were collected using surveys or interviews. RESULTS From July 2020 to May 2022, a total of 79 organizations participated in the EPIC program. Across 32 countries, 118 studies were conducted: 66 quantitative (n=12,060 among KP or people living with HIV or people living with HCV and n=811 among CHWs) and 52 qualitative (n=766 among KP or people living with HIV or people living with HCV and n=136 among CHWs). CONCLUSIONS The results of the EPIC program will provide data to describe the impact of the health crisis on KP and CHWs and identify their emerging needs. Documentation of innovative solutions that were put into place in this context may help improve the provision of services after COVID-19 and for future health crises. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/45204.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicolas Lorente
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Centre Estudis Epidemiològics sobre les Infeccions de Transmissió Sexual i Sida de Catalunya, Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Badalona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Virginie Villes
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
| | | | - Adam Yattassaye
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Association pour la Résilience des Communautés pour l'Accès au Développement et à la Santé PLUS, Bamako, Mali
| | - César Bonifaz
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Corporación Kimirina, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Amal Ben Moussa
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Association de Lutte Contre le Sida, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ingrid-Zaïre Sikitu
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Association Nationale de Soutien aux Séropositifs et Malades du Sida, Bujumbura, Burundi
| | - Niloufer Khodabocus
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Prévention Information Lutte contre le SIDA, Port Louis, Mauritius
| | - Rosa Freitas
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Grupo de Ativistas em Tratamentos, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bruno Spire
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | | | - Luis Sagaon-Teyssier
- Association pour la Résilience des Communautés pour l'Accès au Développement et à la Santé PLUS, Bamako, Mali
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Gabriel Girard
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Perrine Roux
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Annie Velter
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Valérie Delpech
- Director of Population and Public Health Directorate, North Coast North South Wales, Australia
| | - Jade Ghosn
- Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Nord, Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Center Hospitalier Universitaire Bichât - Claude Bernard, Paris, France
- Infection, Antimicrobials, Modelling, Evolution, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1137, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Lucas Riegel
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
| | - Daniela Rojas Castro
- Community-based Research Laboratory, Coalition PLUS, Pantin, France
- Aix Marseille Université, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, SESSTIM, Sciences Économiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, Institut des Sciences de la Santé Publique d'Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
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Seara-Morais GJ, Pousada BF, Escaleira FF, Doi AM, Welter EAR, Avelino-Silva VI. Mobility restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced outpatient HIV and syphilis testing in Brazil. Braz J Infect Dis 2023; 27:102771. [PMID: 37088105 PMCID: PMC10106819 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2023.102771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, strategies adopted to reduce the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 relied on non-pharmacological interventions, including physical distancing. Mobility restrictions affected the availability and quality of care for many health conditions, including sexually transmitted infections. OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic mobility restriction on syphilis and HIV testing in outpatient settings. METHODS In this study, we collected the weekly number of syphilis and HIV tests performed in a referent laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil, as well as the percentage of positive tests between January 2019 and December 2021. We also retrieved data on retail and recreation mobility in São Paulo city using Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports. We explored the association between populational mobility and the number of weekly tests and the association between the number of weekly tests and the percentage of positive results during the pandemic period. The analyses were conducted separately for syphilis and HIV tests. RESULTS We found that mobility restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have been associated with a significant decrease in both syphilis and HIV tests performed in outpatient settings. We also observed that the number of tests performed was inversely associated with the percentage of positive results for syphilis; this association was also apparent for HIV tests in the first wave of the pandemic in the graphic analysis. CONCLUSION Taken together, our findings suggest an indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic-related mobility restrictions on the uptake of diagnostic tests for HIV and syphilis and the potential adoption of targeted-testing strategies. Understanding the extent and complexity of COVID-19 aftermaths on specific conditions and communities is essential to build strategies to mitigate the long-term consequences of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel J Seara-Morais
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruna F Pousada
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fábio F Escaleira
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - André Mario Doi
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Laboratório de Microbiologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Vivian I Avelino-Silva
- Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Bonfanti RC, Garro M, Lavanco G, Ruggieri S. The role of sexting in couple wellbeing for Italian women during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1105556. [PMID: 36968735 PMCID: PMC10030598 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1105556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the sexuality and quality of life of people around the world. A particularly negative effect was detected on women’s sexual health. As a consequence, many women began to use social media not only to stay in touch with their social networks, but as a way of maintaining sexual contact. The main aim of this research is to observe the positive effects of sexting in women’s wellbeing as a strategy to manage the negative effects of a condition of forced isolation. We collected all our data between November 2020 and March 2021 during a period of strict restrictions in Italy due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Study 1, the relationship between loneliness, sexting behaviors, and sexual satisfaction was tested on 312 adult women. The results showed the mediator role of motivation for sexting in the relationship between loneliness and sexual satisfaction. In Study 2, 342 adult women were organized into two groups (women who had sexting at least once during the second wave of the pandemic = 203, and women who did not have sexting during the pandemic = 139) and were assessed on a couple’s wellbeing (intimacy, passion, commitment, and couple satisfaction) and electronic surveillance. The results show that women who had sexting during isolation had higher scores on intimacy, passion, couple satisfaction, and electronic surveillance. These findings suggest the important role of sexting as an adaptive coping strategy during particular conditions of social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubinia Celeste Bonfanti
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Garro
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- *Correspondence: Maria Garro,
| | - Gioacchino Lavanco
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Stefano Ruggieri
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University of Enna, Enna, Italy
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Morelli M, Plata MG, Isolani S, Zabala MEZ, Hoyos KPC, Tirado LMU, Gracia MSR, Barbosa CP, Pistella J, Zuffianò A, Gerbino M, Laghi F, Pastorelli C, Baiocco R. Sexting Behaviors Before and During COVID-19 in Italian and Colombian Young Adults. Sex Res Social Policy 2023:1-13. [PMID: 37363349 PMCID: PMC9986041 DOI: 10.1007/s13178-023-00798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Recent research highlight increasing at-risk online sexual activities and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic among young adults. Specifically, sexting refers to exchanging sexually suggestive messages, photos, and videos through technological devices, and it can be placed on a continuum from safer to riskier behavior. This study aims to improve our knowledge about sexting behaviors in Italian and Colombian young adults before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A survey online was filled in by all recruited participants through a snowball sampling procedure (from December 2019 to June 2021) both in Italy and Colombia, resulting in a total of 2931 participants (2051 from Italy and 880 from Colombia) aged 18 to 35 years old (Mage = 23.85; SDage = 3.63; 67.6% girls). Results Italian youth were more engaged in risky sexting than Colombian participants, while Colombians indicated being more engaged in non-consensual sexting than Italians. Sexual minority people reported more sharing their own sexts, higher levels of sexting under pressure, and 3.2 times more risky sexting than exclusively heterosexual counterparts. During the pandemic period, participants sent their own sexts 1.5 times more and were less involved in non-consensual sexting than in the pre-pandemic era. Conclusions The present research could help understand better the cultural dynamics underlying the differences in sexting behaviors, suggesting the relevance of investigating how sexting behaviors and online at-risk activities have changed since the pandemic started. Policy Implications Results provide implications for educational and prevention programs to improve young people's awareness of sexting behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Morelli
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Isolani
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jessica Pistella
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Zuffianò
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Gerbino
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo Laghi
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Baiocco
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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5
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Jiang X, Lu Y, Hong Y, Zhang Y, Chen L. A Network Comparison of Motives behind Online Sexual Activities and Problematic Pornography Use during the COVID-19 Outbreak and the Post-Pandemic Period. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19105870. [PMID: 35627407 PMCID: PMC9141011 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Many researchers have considered whether online sexual activities (OSAs) increased over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether these have led to an increase in problematic pornography use (PPU). This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on PPU through pornography use motivations (PUMs) and OSAs to develop a better understanding of the mechanism and changes affecting PPU. Two groups of Chinese adults were recruited during the initial months of the pandemic (April 2020, n1 = 496) and the post-pandemic period (October 2021, n2 = 504). A network analysis was conducted to compare the structures of PPU symptoms among the two groups. The results showed that PUMs and OSAs were stronger predictors of PPU during the pandemic than post-pandemic (R2pandemic = 57.6% vs. R2post-pandemic = 28.7%). The motives of fantasy, sexual pleasure, stress reduction, and self-exploration were the prominent motivations during these two periods, but we found distinct PPU-related communities. PPU, sexual pleasure, and viewing sexually explicit materials (a type of OSAs) constituted a community during the pandemic but not in the post-pandemic’s network. The present study indicated that the pandemic may not have been the only factor impacting the higher rate of PPU. Instead, the higher frequency of OSAs during the pandemic may have been a strategy to cope with stress and to safely satisfy sexual desire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoliu Jiang
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.J.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yingfei Lu
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.J.); (Y.L.)
| | - Youjuan Hong
- School of Nursing, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350108, China;
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Physical Education, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (L.C.)
| | - Lijun Chen
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; (X.J.); (Y.L.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (L.C.)
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6
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Toller Erausquin J, Tan RKJ, Uhlich M, Francis JM, Kumar N, Campbell L, Zhang WH, Hlatshwako TG, Kosana P, Shah S, Brenner EM, Remmerie L, Mussa A, Klapilova K, Mark K, Perotta G, Gabster A, Wouters E, Burns S, Hendriks J, Hensel DJ, Shamu S, Marie Strizzi J, Esho T, Morroni C, Eleuteri S, Sahril N, Yun Low W, Plasilova L, Lazdane G, Marks M, Olumide A, Abdelhamed A, López Gómez A, Michielsen K, Moreau C, Tucker JD. The International Sexual Health And REproductive Health during COVID-19 (I-SHARE) Study: A Multicountry Analysis of Adults from 30 Countries Prior to and During the Initial Coronavirus Disease 2019 Wave. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75:e991-e999. [PMID: 35136960 PMCID: PMC9383436 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited evidence to date about changes to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) during the initial wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To address this gap, our team organized a multicountry, cross-sectional online survey as part of a global consortium. METHODS Consortium research teams conducted online surveys in 30 countries. Sampling methods included convenience, online panels, and population-representative. Primary outcomes included sexual behaviors, partner violence, and SRH service use, and we compared 3 months prior to and during policy measures to mitigate COVID-19. We conducted meta-analyses for primary outcomes and graded the certainty of the evidence. RESULTS Among 4546 respondents with casual partners, condom use stayed the same for 3374 (74.4%), and 640 (14.1%) reported a decline. Fewer respondents reported physical or sexual partner violence during COVID-19 measures (1063 of 15 144, 7.0%) compared to before COVID-19 measures (1469 of 15 887, 9.3%). COVID-19 measures impeded access to condoms (933 of 10 790, 8.7%), contraceptives (610 of 8175, 7.5%), and human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infection (HIV/STI) testing (750 of 1965, 30.7%). Pooled estimates from meta-analysis indicate that during COVID-19 measures, 32.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.9%-42.1%) of people needing HIV/STI testing had hindered access, 4.4% (95% CI, 3.4%-5.4%) experienced partner violence, and 5.8% (95% CI, 5.4%-8.2%) decreased casual partner condom use (moderate certainty of evidence for each outcome). Meta-analysis findings were robust in sensitivity analyses that examined country income level, sample size, and sampling strategy. CONCLUSIONS Open science methods are feasible to organize research studies as part of emergency responses. The initial COVID-19 wave impacted SRH behaviors and access to services across diverse global settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Joel M Francis
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Navin Kumar
- Department of Sociology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Linda Campbell
- Center for Population, Family, and Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wei Hong Zhang
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium,School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Takhona G Hlatshwako
- Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Priya Kosana
- Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sonam Shah
- Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erica M Brenner
- Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lore Remmerie
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aamirah Mussa
- Botswana Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative, Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Katerina Klapilova
- Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic,National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Kristen Mark
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gabriela Perotta
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Amanda Gabster
- Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies, Panama City, Panama,Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edwin Wouters
- Center for Population, Family, and Health, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sharyn Burns
- Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Hendriks
- Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Devon J Hensel
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA,Department of Sociology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Simukai Shamu
- Health Systems Strengthening, Foundation for Professional Development, Pretoria, South Africa,School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Tammary Esho
- End FGM/C Centre of Excellence, Amref Health Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Chelsea Morroni
- Botswana Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative, Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana,MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Wah Yun Low
- Asia–Europe Institute, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Leona Plasilova
- Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic,National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Gunta Lazdane
- Institute of Public Health, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
| | - Michael Marks
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Amr Abdelhamed
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Andrology, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | | | - Kristien Michielsen
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Caroline Moreau
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USAand,Primary Care and Prevention, Center for Research in Epidemiology and Public Health, National Institute of Health and Medical Research 1018, Villejuif, France
| | - Joseph D Tucker
- Correspondence: J. D. Tucker, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Room 360, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK ()
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Gabster A, Jhangimal M, Erausquin JT, Suárez JA, Pinzón-Espinosa J, Baird M, Katz J, Beltran-Henríquez D, Cabezas-Talavero G, Henao-Martínez AF, Franco-Paredes C, Agudelo-Higuita NI, Pachar M, González JA, Rodriguez F, Pascale JM. Rapid health evaluation in migrant peoples in transit through Darien, Panama: protocol for a multimethod qualitative and quantitative study. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2021; 8:20499361211066190. [PMID: 34925828 PMCID: PMC8679050 DOI: 10.1177/20499361211066190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The world is currently unprepared to deal with the drastic increase in global
migration. There is an urgent need to develop programs to protect the
well-being and health of migrant peoples. Increased population movement is
already evident throughout the Americas as exemplified by the rising number
of migrant peoples who pass through the Darien neotropical moist broadleaf
forest along the border region between Panama and Colombia. The transit of
migrant peoples through this area has an increase in the last years. In
2021, an average of 9400 people entered the region per month compared with
2000–3500 people monthly in 2019. Along this trail, there is no access to
health care, food provision, potable water, or housing. To date, much of
what is known about health needs and barriers to health care within this
population is based on journalistic reports and anecdotes. There is a need
for a comprehensive approach to assess the health care needs of migrant
peoples in transit. This study aims to describe demographic characteristics,
mental and physical health status and needs, and experiences of host
communities, and to identify opportunities to improve health care provision
to migrant peoples in transit in Panama. Study design and methods: This multimethod study will include qualitative (n = 70) and
quantitative (n = 520) components. The qualitative
component includes interviews with migrant peoples in transit, national and
international nongovernmental organizations and agencies based in Panama.
The quantitative component is a rapid epidemiological study which includes a
questionnaire and four clinical screenings: mental health, sexual and
reproductive health, general and tropical medicine, and nutrition. Conclusion: This study will contribute to a better understanding of the health status and
needs of migrant peoples in transit through the region. Findings will be
used to allocate resources and provide targeted health care interventions
for migrant peoples in transit through Darien, Panama.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Gabster
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Ave Justo Arosemena, Calle 36 Ciudad de Panamá, Panama City, Panamá
| | - Monica Jhangimal
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panamá
| | | | | | | | | | - Jennifer Katz
- Community Development Network of the Americas, Panama City, Panamá
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Fátima Rodriguez
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panamá
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Erausquin JT, Tan RKJ, Uhlich M, Francis JM, Kumar N, Campbell L, Zhang WH, Hlatshwako TG, Kosana P, Shah S, Brenner EM, Remmerie L, Mussa A, Klapilova K, Mark K, Perotta G, Gabster A, Wouters E, Burns S, Hendriks J, Hensel DJ, Shamu S, Strizzi JM, Esho T, Morroni C, Eleuteri S, Sahril N, Low WY, Plasilova L, Lazdane G, Marks M, Olumide A, Abdelhamed A, López Gómez A, Michielsen K, Moreau C, Tucker JD. The International Sexual Health And Reproductive Health Survey (I-SHARE-1): A Multi-Country Analysis of Adults from 30 Countries Prior to and During the Initial COVID-19 Wave. medRxiv 2021. [PMID: 34704103 PMCID: PMC8547535 DOI: 10.1101/2021.09.18.21263630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic forced billions of people to shelter in place, altering social and sexual relationships worldwide. In many settings, COVID-19 threatened already precarious health services. However, there is limited evidence to date about changes to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) during the initial wave of COVID-19 disease. To address this gap, our team organized a multi-country, cross-sectional online survey as part of a global consortium. Methods Consortium research teams conducted online surveys in 30 countries. Sampling methods included convenience, online panels, and population-representative. Primary outcomes included sexual behaviors, partner violence, and SRH service utilization, and we compared three months prior to and three months after policy measures to mitigate COVID-19. We used established indicators and analyses pre-specified in our protocol. We conducted meta-analyses for primary outcomes and graded the certainty of the evidence using Cochrane methods. Descriptive analyses included 22,724 individuals in 25 countries. Five additional countries with sample sizes <200 were included in descriptive meta-analyses. Results Respondents were mean age 34 years; most identified as women (15160; 66.7%), cis-gender (19432; 86.6%) and heterosexual (16592; 77.9%). Among 4546 respondents with casual partners, condom use stayed the same for 3374 (74.4%) people and 640 (14.1%) people reported a decline. Fewer respondents reported physical or sexual partner violence during COVID-19 measures (1063/15144, 7.0%) compared to the period before COVID-19 measures (1469/15887, 9.3%). COVID-19 measures impeded access to condoms (933/10790, 8.7%), contraceptives (610/8175, 7.5%), and HIV/STI testing (750/1965, 30.7%). Pooled estimates from meta-analysis indicate during COVID-19 measures, 32.3% (95% CI 23.9-42.1) of people needing HIV/STI testing had hindered access, 4.4% (95% CI 3.4-5.4) experienced partner violence, and 5.8% (95% CI 5.4-8.2) decreased casual partner condom use (moderate certainty of evidence for each outcome). Meta-analysis findings were robust in sensitivity analyses that examined country income level, sample size, and sampling strategy. Conclusion Open science methods are feasible to organize research studies as part of emergency responses. The initial COVID-19 wave impacted SRH behaviors and access to services across diverse global settings.
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Bianchi D, Baiocco R, Lonigro A, Pompili S, Zammuto M, Di Tata D, Morelli M, Chirumbolo A, Di Norcia A, Cannoni E, Longobardi E, Laghi F. Love in Quarantine: Sexting, Stress, and Coping During the COVID-19 Lockdown. Sex Res Social Policy 2021; 20:465-478. [PMID: 34580599 PMCID: PMC8458047 DOI: 10.1007/s13178-021-00645-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Introduction This study investigated the relationships of pandemic-related stress and coping strategies with different kinds of sexting (i.e., experimental, risky, and emotional) during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Italian context. Methods A sample of 1929 emerging adults (Mage = 24.17, SDage = 2.75; 71.6% girls) completed an online survey about their sexting behaviors during the national lockdown in Italy. Data were gathered in April/May 2020, from 6th to 11th week of home confinement due to COVID-19 pandemic. Hierarchical regression and mediation analyses were performed. Results Pandemic-related stress directly predicted only risky and emotional sexting. Experimental and emotional sexting were positively predicted by social support, and negatively predicted by turning to religion. Risky and emotional sexting were positively predicted by avoidance, and negatively predicted by problem solving. Adaptive coping (i.e., social support) mediated the relationships from pandemic-related stress to both experimental and emotional sexting. Maladaptive coping (i.e., avoidance and problem solving) mediated the relationships from pandemic related-stress to risky and emotional sexting. Conclusions Sexting was a coping tool during COVID-19 lockdown, showing both adaptive and maladaptive facets. Policy Implications Findings suggest new directions for implementing programs of sexual education and safer Internet use targeted to young people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Bianchi
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Baiocco
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonia Lonigro
- Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Pompili
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Zammuto
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniele Di Tata
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Morelli
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Anna Di Norcia
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cannoni
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Emiddia Longobardi
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo Laghi
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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