Sexually transmitted diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in Cuba
Objectives: The implementation of social confinement measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their transmission. This study aims to explore the epidemiological behaviour of two...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Public Health in Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535220300719 |
| _version_ | 1819096932132323328 |
|---|---|
| author | Islay Rodríguez Yisel Hernández |
| author_facet | Islay Rodríguez Yisel Hernández |
| author_sort | Islay Rodríguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: The implementation of social confinement measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their transmission. This study aims to explore the epidemiological behaviour of two notifiable STDs during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba. Study design: This is an exploratory study of the incidence rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba. Methods: This study compares national weekly surveillance data on syphilis and gonorrhoea incidence rates in Cuba with the timeline of implemented social confinement measures. Results: Incidence rates for both STDs were declining before the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Cuba. Following the confirmation of COVID-19 in Cuba and the implementation of social confinement measures, the decreasing incidence rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea continued. When social measures were subsequently relaxed, there was an increase in the incidence of syphilis, but incidence levels of gonorrhoea remained at a plateau. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the social measures introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19 influenced the sexual risk behaviours of individuals and subsequently modified the incidence of syphilis and gonorrhoea. It is necessary to continue epidemiological surveillance for longer periods of time and to explore it at the local, regional and national levels to better understand STDs in times of COVID-19. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:07:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9dfe4ec867db42b1a969c638a958d94f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:07:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health in Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-9dfe4ec867db42b1a969c638a958d94f2022-12-21T18:45:32ZengElsevierPublic Health in Practice2666-53522021-11-012100072Sexually transmitted diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in CubaIslay Rodríguez0Yisel Hernández1Corresponding author. Tropical Medicine Institute “Pedro Kourí”. PO Box 601, Marianao 13, Havana, Cuba.; National Reference Laboratory of Treponemes and Special Pathogens, Tropical Medicine Institute “Pedro Kourí”, Havana, CubaGroup of Social Communication, Tropical Medicine Institute “Pedro Kourí”, Havana, CubaObjectives: The implementation of social confinement measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their transmission. This study aims to explore the epidemiological behaviour of two notifiable STDs during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba. Study design: This is an exploratory study of the incidence rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba. Methods: This study compares national weekly surveillance data on syphilis and gonorrhoea incidence rates in Cuba with the timeline of implemented social confinement measures. Results: Incidence rates for both STDs were declining before the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Cuba. Following the confirmation of COVID-19 in Cuba and the implementation of social confinement measures, the decreasing incidence rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea continued. When social measures were subsequently relaxed, there was an increase in the incidence of syphilis, but incidence levels of gonorrhoea remained at a plateau. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the social measures introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19 influenced the sexual risk behaviours of individuals and subsequently modified the incidence of syphilis and gonorrhoea. It is necessary to continue epidemiological surveillance for longer periods of time and to explore it at the local, regional and national levels to better understand STDs in times of COVID-19.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535220300719COVID-19SARS-CoV-2STDSyphilisGonorrhoea |
| spellingShingle | Islay Rodríguez Yisel Hernández Sexually transmitted diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in Cuba Public Health in Practice COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 STD Syphilis Gonorrhoea |
| title | Sexually transmitted diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in Cuba |
| title_full | Sexually transmitted diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in Cuba |
| title_fullStr | Sexually transmitted diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in Cuba |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexually transmitted diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in Cuba |
| title_short | Sexually transmitted diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in Cuba |
| title_sort | sexually transmitted diseases during the covid 19 pandemic a focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in cuba |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 STD Syphilis Gonorrhoea |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535220300719 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT islayrodriguez sexuallytransmitteddiseasesduringthecovid19pandemicafocusonsyphilisandgonorrhoeaincuba AT yiselhernandez sexuallytransmitteddiseasesduringthecovid19pandemicafocusonsyphilisandgonorrhoeaincuba |