HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany
AimsSince 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...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.930208/full |
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| author | M. Uhrmacher M. Uhrmacher A. Skaletz-Rorowski A. Skaletz-Rorowski S. Nambiar S. Nambiar A. J. Schmidt A. J. Schmidt P. Ahaus P. Ahaus K. Serova I. Mordhorst I. Mordhorst A. Kayser A. Kayser J. Wach J. Wach C. Tiemann D. Münstermann N. H. Brockmeyer N. H. Brockmeyer A. Potthoff A. Potthoff |
| author_facet | M. Uhrmacher M. Uhrmacher A. Skaletz-Rorowski A. Skaletz-Rorowski S. Nambiar S. Nambiar A. J. Schmidt A. J. Schmidt P. Ahaus P. Ahaus K. Serova I. Mordhorst I. Mordhorst A. Kayser A. Kayser J. Wach J. Wach C. Tiemann D. Münstermann N. H. Brockmeyer N. H. Brockmeyer A. Potthoff A. Potthoff |
| author_sort | M. Uhrmacher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AimsSince 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.MethodsThe 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).ResultsDuring 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 2nd 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 1st quarter of 2020, to 7 partners in 4th 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.ConclusionThe 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:53:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fee0a39445ee4f43a2b8834783688a2f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T02:53:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fee0a39445ee4f43a2b8834783688a2f2022-12-22T02:16:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-08-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.930208930208HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in GermanyM. Uhrmacher0M. Uhrmacher1A. Skaletz-Rorowski2A. Skaletz-Rorowski3S. Nambiar4S. Nambiar5A. J. Schmidt6A. J. Schmidt7P. Ahaus8P. Ahaus9K. Serova10I. Mordhorst11I. Mordhorst12A. Kayser13A. Kayser14J. Wach15J. Wach16C. Tiemann17D. Münstermann18N. H. Brockmeyer19N. H. Brockmeyer20A. Potthoff21A. Potthoff22WIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, GermanyInterdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, GermanyWIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, GermanyInterdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, GermanyWIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, GermanyInterdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, GermanySigma Research, Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United KingdomDivision of Infectious Diseases, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, SwitzerlandWIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, GermanyInterdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, GermanyInstitute of Educational Research, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, GermanyWIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, GermanyInterdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, GermanyWIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, GermanyAidshilfe Bochum e.V. (Aids-Service Organization Bochum), Bochum, GermanyWIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, GermanyLocal Health Department Bochum, Bochum, GermanyLaboratory Krone, Bad Salzuflen, GermanyLaboratory Krone, Bad Salzuflen, GermanyWIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, GermanyInterdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, GermanyWIR – Walk in Ruhr, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Bochum, GermanyInterdisciplinary Immunological Outpatient Clinic, Center for Sexual Health and Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, GermanyAimsSince 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.MethodsThe 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).ResultsDuring 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 2nd 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 1st quarter of 2020, to 7 partners in 4th 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.ConclusionThe 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.930208/fullHIVpre-exposure prophylaxisMSMSARS-CoV-2pandemic (COVID-19)sexual behavior |
| spellingShingle | M. Uhrmacher M. Uhrmacher A. Skaletz-Rorowski A. Skaletz-Rorowski S. Nambiar S. Nambiar A. J. Schmidt A. J. Schmidt P. Ahaus P. Ahaus K. Serova I. Mordhorst I. Mordhorst A. Kayser A. Kayser J. Wach J. Wach C. Tiemann D. Münstermann N. H. Brockmeyer N. H. Brockmeyer A. Potthoff A. Potthoff HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany Frontiers in Public Health HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis MSM SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19) sexual behavior |
| title | HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany |
| title_full | HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany |
| title_fullStr | HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany |
| title_short | HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Results from a prospective observational study in Germany |
| title_sort | hiv pre exposure prophylaxis during the sars cov 2 pandemic results from a prospective observational study in germany |
| topic | HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis MSM SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19) sexual behavior |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.930208/full |
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