COVID-19 infection and vaccination uptake in men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK: analyses of a large, online community cross-sectional survey (RiiSH-COVID) undertaken November–December 2021
Abstract Background Men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by health conditions associated with increased risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection. Methods An online cross-sectional survey of men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15779-5 |
| _version_ | 1827952504136007680 |
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| author | Dana Ogaz Hester Allen David Reid Jack R. G. Brown Alison R. Howarth Caisey V. Pulford Catherine H. Mercer John Saunders Gwenda Hughes Hamish Mohammed |
| author_facet | Dana Ogaz Hester Allen David Reid Jack R. G. Brown Alison R. Howarth Caisey V. Pulford Catherine H. Mercer John Saunders Gwenda Hughes Hamish Mohammed |
| author_sort | Dana Ogaz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by health conditions associated with increased risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection. Methods An online cross-sectional survey of men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK recruited via social networking and dating applications from 22 November-12 December 2021. Eligible participants included self-identifying men, transgender women, or gender-diverse individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB), aged ≥ 16, who were UK residents, and self-reported having had sex with an individual AMAB in the last year. We calculated self-reported COVID-19 test-positivity, proportion reporting long COVID, and COVID-19 vaccination uptake anytime from pandemic start to survey completion (November/December 2021). Logistic regression was used to assess sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioural characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) test positivity and complete vaccination (≥ 2 vaccine doses). Results Among 1,039 participants (88.1% white, median age 41 years [interquartile range: 31-51]), 18.6% (95% CI: 16.3%-21.1%) reported COVID-19 test positivity, 8.3% (95% CI: 6.7%-10.1%) long COVID, and 94.5% (95% CI: 93.3%-96.1%) complete COVID-19 vaccination through late 2021. In multivariable models, COVID-19 test positivity was associated with UK country of residence (aOR: 2.22 [95% CI: 1.26-3.92], England vs outside England) and employment (aOR: 1.55 [95% CI: 1.01-2.38], current employment vs not employed). Complete COVID-19 vaccination was associated with age (aOR: 1.04 [95% CI: 1.01-1.06], per increasing year), gender (aOR: 0.26 [95% CI: 0.09-0.72], gender minority vs cisgender), education (aOR: 2.11 [95% CI: 1.12-3.98], degree-level or higher vs below degree-level), employment (aOR: 2.07 [95% CI: 1.08-3.94], current employment vs not employed), relationship status (aOR: 0.50 [95% CI: 0.25-1.00], single vs in a relationship), COVID-19 infection history (aOR: 0.47 [95% CI: 0.25-0.88], test positivity or self-perceived infection vs no history), known HPV vaccination (aOR: 3.32 [95% CI: 1.43-7.75]), and low self-worth (aOR: 0.29 [95% CI: 0.15-0.54]). Conclusions In this community sample, COVID-19 vaccine uptake was high overall, though lower among younger age-groups, gender minorities, and those with poorer well-being. Efforts are needed to limit COVID-19 related exacerbation of health inequalities in groups who already experience a greater burden of poor health relative to other men who have sex with men. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:58:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2f2049adffd84f5ea55d860410fbb633 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:58:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2f2049adffd84f5ea55d860410fbb6332023-05-07T11:26:26ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-05-0123111410.1186/s12889-023-15779-5COVID-19 infection and vaccination uptake in men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK: analyses of a large, online community cross-sectional survey (RiiSH-COVID) undertaken November–December 2021Dana Ogaz0Hester Allen1David Reid2Jack R. G. Brown3Alison R. Howarth4Caisey V. Pulford5Catherine H. Mercer6John Saunders7Gwenda Hughes8Hamish Mohammed9Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division, UK Health Security AgencyCOVID-19 Vaccines and Epidemiology Division, UK Health Security AgencyThe National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Protection Research Unit in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections at University College London in partnership with the, UK Health Security AgencyThe National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Protection Research Unit in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections at University College London in partnership with the, UK Health Security AgencyThe National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Protection Research Unit in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections at University College London in partnership with the, UK Health Security AgencyBlood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division, UK Health Security AgencyThe National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Protection Research Unit in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections at University College London in partnership with the, UK Health Security AgencyBlood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division, UK Health Security AgencyBlood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division, UK Health Security AgencyBlood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division, UK Health Security AgencyAbstract Background Men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men are disproportionately affected by health conditions associated with increased risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 infection. Methods An online cross-sectional survey of men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK recruited via social networking and dating applications from 22 November-12 December 2021. Eligible participants included self-identifying men, transgender women, or gender-diverse individuals assigned male at birth (AMAB), aged ≥ 16, who were UK residents, and self-reported having had sex with an individual AMAB in the last year. We calculated self-reported COVID-19 test-positivity, proportion reporting long COVID, and COVID-19 vaccination uptake anytime from pandemic start to survey completion (November/December 2021). Logistic regression was used to assess sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioural characteristics associated with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) test positivity and complete vaccination (≥ 2 vaccine doses). Results Among 1,039 participants (88.1% white, median age 41 years [interquartile range: 31-51]), 18.6% (95% CI: 16.3%-21.1%) reported COVID-19 test positivity, 8.3% (95% CI: 6.7%-10.1%) long COVID, and 94.5% (95% CI: 93.3%-96.1%) complete COVID-19 vaccination through late 2021. In multivariable models, COVID-19 test positivity was associated with UK country of residence (aOR: 2.22 [95% CI: 1.26-3.92], England vs outside England) and employment (aOR: 1.55 [95% CI: 1.01-2.38], current employment vs not employed). Complete COVID-19 vaccination was associated with age (aOR: 1.04 [95% CI: 1.01-1.06], per increasing year), gender (aOR: 0.26 [95% CI: 0.09-0.72], gender minority vs cisgender), education (aOR: 2.11 [95% CI: 1.12-3.98], degree-level or higher vs below degree-level), employment (aOR: 2.07 [95% CI: 1.08-3.94], current employment vs not employed), relationship status (aOR: 0.50 [95% CI: 0.25-1.00], single vs in a relationship), COVID-19 infection history (aOR: 0.47 [95% CI: 0.25-0.88], test positivity or self-perceived infection vs no history), known HPV vaccination (aOR: 3.32 [95% CI: 1.43-7.75]), and low self-worth (aOR: 0.29 [95% CI: 0.15-0.54]). Conclusions In this community sample, COVID-19 vaccine uptake was high overall, though lower among younger age-groups, gender minorities, and those with poorer well-being. Efforts are needed to limit COVID-19 related exacerbation of health inequalities in groups who already experience a greater burden of poor health relative to other men who have sex with men.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15779-5COVID-19SARS-CoV-2VaccinationLong COVIDGender-diverseMen who have sex with men |
| spellingShingle | Dana Ogaz Hester Allen David Reid Jack R. G. Brown Alison R. Howarth Caisey V. Pulford Catherine H. Mercer John Saunders Gwenda Hughes Hamish Mohammed COVID-19 infection and vaccination uptake in men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK: analyses of a large, online community cross-sectional survey (RiiSH-COVID) undertaken November–December 2021 BMC Public Health COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Long COVID Gender-diverse Men who have sex with men |
| title | COVID-19 infection and vaccination uptake in men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK: analyses of a large, online community cross-sectional survey (RiiSH-COVID) undertaken November–December 2021 |
| title_full | COVID-19 infection and vaccination uptake in men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK: analyses of a large, online community cross-sectional survey (RiiSH-COVID) undertaken November–December 2021 |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 infection and vaccination uptake in men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK: analyses of a large, online community cross-sectional survey (RiiSH-COVID) undertaken November–December 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 infection and vaccination uptake in men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK: analyses of a large, online community cross-sectional survey (RiiSH-COVID) undertaken November–December 2021 |
| title_short | COVID-19 infection and vaccination uptake in men and gender-diverse people who have sex with men in the UK: analyses of a large, online community cross-sectional survey (RiiSH-COVID) undertaken November–December 2021 |
| title_sort | covid 19 infection and vaccination uptake in men and gender diverse people who have sex with men in the uk analyses of a large online community cross sectional survey riish covid undertaken november december 2021 |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Long COVID Gender-diverse Men who have sex with men |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15779-5 |
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