Gomillia Courtney E, Arnold Trisha, Dobbs Thomas E, Monger Mauda L, Nunn Amy, Ward Lori M
Department of Population Health Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, TR202, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA.
Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2025 Mar 18. doi: 10.1007/s40615-024-02103-z.
BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to bear the disproportionate burden of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the public's fear of the virus may have exacerbated this burden by hindering access to and utilization of HIV/STI testing services. METHODS: We completed a systematic literature review to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on MSM's access and utilization of HIV/STI testing services. Online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, LGBTQ + Source, CINAHL, and the WHO COVID database) and reference lists were searched until October 8, 2023 to identify literature meeting the following criteria: primary data collection; peer-reviewed publication in the English language; included MSM ≥ 18 years of age; examined access to and utilization of HIV and/or STI testing in the United States. RESULTS: We identified 1,013 articles, of which 88 were eligible for full text review. Nineteen articles met full inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Twelve were cross-sectional studies, 4 were prospective cohort studies, and 3 were retrospective chart reviews. Sixteen of the 19 studies reported perceived interruptions or decreases in HIV/STI testing among MSM during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, two cross-sectional studies reported increases in STI prevalence during the pandemic and one cross-sectional study reported that access to HIV testing was unaffected. CONCLUSION: This systematic review summarized the existing literature that suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic largely impacted access to and utilization of HIV/STI testing among MSM in the U.S.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2025-3-18
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