Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China.
Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2024 Dec;19(1):2408816. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2024.2408816. Epub 2024 Oct 10.
COVID-19 had significant influences on everyone's lives. This study aimed to explore impacts of COVID-19 on mental and sexual health and access to health services among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Singapore.
This qualitative study recruited 16 self-identified GBMSM via purposive sampling and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted. Three themes and seven sub-themes were derived from analysis done using the framework method.
Participants shared how COVID-19 led to negative emotions and experiences at an intrapersonal level and interpersonal level (with families or partners), which were also worsened by prevailing stigma that GBMSM already face in Singapore and within their social networks. Sexual behaviours associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections risk and substance use were seen to be maladaptive coping methods of social isolation due to COVID-19. These dynamics were all exacerbated by the closure of "non-essential" services, which included many important services for mental and sexual health that were relevant to the GBMSM community.
Changes in policies and community efforts should be explored to improve these areas, enhancing the psychosocial and sexual well-being of GBMSM.
COVID-19 对每个人的生活都产生了重大影响。本研究旨在探讨 COVID-19 对新加坡男同性恋、双性恋和其他男男性行为者（GBMSM）的心理健康和性健康以及获得卫生服务的影响。
本定性研究通过目的性抽样招募了 16 名自我认同的 GBMSM，并进行了半结构式个体访谈。使用框架方法进行分析得出了三个主题和七个子主题。
参与者分享了 COVID-19 如何在个人层面和人际关系层面（与家人或伴侣）导致负面情绪和体验，而新加坡和他们的社交网络中普遍存在的对 GBMSM 的污名化也使情况恶化。与 HIV 和其他性传播感染风险相关的性行为以及物质使用被视为由于 COVID-19 导致社交隔离的适应不良应对方法。由于 COVID-19，“非必要”服务的关闭加剧了这些动态，其中包括许多与 GBMSM 社区相关的重要心理健康和性健康服务。
应探讨政策和社区工作的变化，以改善这些领域，增强 GBMSM 的心理社会和性健康。
