Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infection testing and diagnosis in Lebanon: A retrospective chart review
COVID-19 related closures led to substantial reduction in SHS accessibility among clinic attendees. STI positivity rates increased post-COVID-19 onset, although this increase was not statistically significant. Findings suggest that sexual risk behavior was taking place during the pandemic despite the lockdowns and highlight the need to minimize disruptions in provision of SHS during similar crises, particularly to key populations.
Authors
- Sara Abu Zaki
- Ayman Assi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3582-9420)
- Laith Jamal Abu-Raddad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0790-0506)
- Sasha Fahme (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0265-2582)
- Ghina R. Mumtaz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4332-4702)
- Peter Boufadel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7078-9148)
- Iman Fakih
- Mathieu Choufani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8748-6034)
- Nadine Sunji
- Ryan Yammine
- Nabih Habib
- Jean-Paul Rizk
- Jana Haidar Ahmad
Institutions
- Saint Joseph University (LB)
- Cornell University (US)
- Hamad bin Khalifa University (QA)
- Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (QA)
- Qatar University (QA)
- American University of Beirut (LB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Heliyon
- Published
- 2024-10-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39191
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Genital Health and Disease
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.15
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- Weill Cornell Medical College
- Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar
- Economic and Social Research Council