HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany

Since 2017, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care has been provided through an intersectoral collaboration at WIR (Walk-in-Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany). The aim of this study was to establish possible impact of COVID-restrictions on the sexual behavior of PrEP use...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in public health Vol. 10; p. 930208
Main Authors: Uhrmacher, M, Skaletz-Rorowski, A, Nambiar, S, Schmidt, A J, Ahaus, P, Serova, K, Mordhorst, I, Kayser, A, Wach, J, Tiemann, C, Münstermann, D, Brockmeyer, N H, Potthoff, A
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 24-08-2022
Subjects:
Communicable Disease Control
COVID-19 - epidemiology
COVID-19 - prevention & control
Germany - epidemiology
HIV
HIV Infections - drug therapy
HIV Infections - epidemiology
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Male
MSM
pandemic (COVID-19)
Pandemics
pre-exposure prophylaxis
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - methods
Public Health
SARS-CoV-2
Sexual and Gender Minorities
sexual behavior
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control
Germany
SARS-CoV-2
pre-exposure prophylaxis
HIV
pandemic (COVID-19)
sexual behavior
MSM
Chemsex drugs
sexual transmission infection
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Summary:Since 2017, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care has been provided through an intersectoral collaboration at WIR (Walk-in-Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, Germany). The aim of this study was to establish possible impact of COVID-restrictions on the sexual behavior of PrEP users in North Rhine-Westphalia. The current PrEP study collected data of individuals using PrEP, their sexual behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) before (each quarter of year 2018) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (each quarter of year 2020). During the first lockdown in Germany from mid-March until May 2020, PrEP-care appointments at WIR were postponed or canceled. Almost a third of PrEP users had discontinued their PrEP intake in the 2 quarter of 2020 due to alteration of their sexual behavior. The number of sexual partners decreased from a median of 14 partners in the previous 6 months in 1 quarter of 2020, to 7 partners in 4 quarter of 2020. Despite such a significant reduction in partner number during the pandemic in comparison to the pre-pandemic period, a steady rate of STIs was observed among PrEP users in 2020. The SARS-CoV-2-pandemic has impacted PrEP-using MSM in North Rhine-Westphalia with respect to their PrEP intake regimen and sexual behavior in 2020. Our study revealed a steady rate of STI among PrEP users even during the pandemic, thus highlighting the importance of ensuring appropriate HIV/STI prevention services in times of crisis.
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This article was submitted to Infectious Diseases-Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment, a section of the journal Frontiers in Public Health
Edited by: Wei Luo, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Reviewed by: Oana Sandulescu, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania; Steven Goodreau, University of Washington, United States
ISSN:2296-2565
2296-2565
DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2022.930208