Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose including text and data mining provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained. The COVID pandemic has exposed and exacerbated existing socioeconomic and health disparities, including disparities in sexual health and well-being.
While there have been several reviews published on COVID and population health disparities generallyβincluding some with attention to HIVβnone has focused on sexual health ie, STI care, female sexual health, sexual behaviour. Multiple bibliographical databases were searched. We only included English-language original studies. We found that men who have sex with men may be moving back toward pre-pandemic levels of sexual activity, and that STI and HIV testing rates seem to have decreased.
We noticed limited use of qualitative techniques. Sexual health research is critical during a global infectious disease pandemic and our review of studies suggested notable research gaps. Researchers can focus efforts on LMICs and under-researched topics within sexual health and explore the use of qualitative techniques and interventions where appropriate.
The COVID pandemic disproportionately affects the sexual health of people of colour, 1 ethnic minority groups, 2 women, 3 and sexual and gender minority SGM 4 populations. Sexual health research includes studies that centre on sexual minorities as a population and comprises sexual behaviour and access to high-quality sexual healthcare.
For the purposes of this review, due to a lack of research and that systematic reviews on these areas are currently being conducted, reproductive health RH , intimate partner violence IPV and gender-based violence GBV were not considered components of sexual health.
