TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual and reproductive health in Britain during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
T2 - Cross-sectional population survey (Natsal-COVID-Wave 2) and national surveillance data
AU - Mitchell, Kirstin R.
AU - Willis, Malachi
AU - Dema, Emily
AU - Baxter, Andrew J.
AU - Connolly, Anne
AU - Riddell, Julie
AU - Bosó Pérez, Raquel
AU - Clifton, Soazig
AU - Gibbs, Jo
AU - Tanton, Clare
AU - Geary, Rebecca
AU - Ratna, Natasha
AU - Mohammed, Hamish
AU - Unemo, Magnus
AU - Bonell, Christopher
AU - Copas, Andrew
AU - Sonnenberg, Pam
AU - Mercer, Catherine H.
AU - Field, Nigel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2023/9/1
Y1 - 2023/9/1
N2 - Objectives To assess sexual behaviour, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, after 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Britain. Methods 6658 participants aged 18-59 and resident in Britain completed a cross-sectional web-panel survey (Natsal-COVID-Wave 2, March-April 2021), 1 year after the first lockdown. Natsal-COVID-2 follows the Natsal-COVID-Wave 1 survey (July-August 2020) which captured impacts in the initial months. Quota-based sampling and weighting resulted in a quasi-representative population sample. Data were contextualised with reference to the most recent probability sample population data (Natsal-3; collected 2010-12; 15 162 participants aged 16-74) and national surveillance data on recorded sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, conceptions, and abortions in England/Wales (2010-2020). The main outcomes were: sexual behaviour; SRH service use; pregnancy, abortion and fertility management; sexual dissatisfaction, distress and difficulties. Results In the year from the first lockdown, over two-thirds of participants reported one or more sexual partners (women 71.8%; men 69.9%), while fewer than 20.0% reported a new partner (women 10.4%; men 16.8%). Median occasions of sex per month was two. Compared with 2010-12 (Natsal-3), we found less sexual risk behaviour (lower reporting of multiple partners, new partners, and new condomless partners), including among younger participants and those reporting same-sex behaviour. One in 10 women reported a pregnancy; pregnancies were fewer than in 2010-12 and less likely to be scored as unplanned. 19.3% of women and 22.8% of men were distressed or worried about their sex life, significantly more than in 2010-12. Compared with surveillance trends from 2010 to 2019, we found lower than expected use of STI-related services and HIV testing, lower levels of chlamydia testing, and fewer conceptions and abortions. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with significant changes in sexual behaviour, SRH, and service uptake in the year following the first lockdown in Britain. These data are foundational to SRH recovery and policy planning.
AB - Objectives To assess sexual behaviour, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, after 1 year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Britain. Methods 6658 participants aged 18-59 and resident in Britain completed a cross-sectional web-panel survey (Natsal-COVID-Wave 2, March-April 2021), 1 year after the first lockdown. Natsal-COVID-2 follows the Natsal-COVID-Wave 1 survey (July-August 2020) which captured impacts in the initial months. Quota-based sampling and weighting resulted in a quasi-representative population sample. Data were contextualised with reference to the most recent probability sample population data (Natsal-3; collected 2010-12; 15 162 participants aged 16-74) and national surveillance data on recorded sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, conceptions, and abortions in England/Wales (2010-2020). The main outcomes were: sexual behaviour; SRH service use; pregnancy, abortion and fertility management; sexual dissatisfaction, distress and difficulties. Results In the year from the first lockdown, over two-thirds of participants reported one or more sexual partners (women 71.8%; men 69.9%), while fewer than 20.0% reported a new partner (women 10.4%; men 16.8%). Median occasions of sex per month was two. Compared with 2010-12 (Natsal-3), we found less sexual risk behaviour (lower reporting of multiple partners, new partners, and new condomless partners), including among younger participants and those reporting same-sex behaviour. One in 10 women reported a pregnancy; pregnancies were fewer than in 2010-12 and less likely to be scored as unplanned. 19.3% of women and 22.8% of men were distressed or worried about their sex life, significantly more than in 2010-12. Compared with surveillance trends from 2010 to 2019, we found lower than expected use of STI-related services and HIV testing, lower levels of chlamydia testing, and fewer conceptions and abortions. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with significant changes in sexual behaviour, SRH, and service uptake in the year following the first lockdown in Britain. These data are foundational to SRH recovery and policy planning.
KW - CERVICAL SCREENING
KW - COVID-19
KW - PREGNANCY
KW - REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
KW - SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
KW - SEXUAL DIFFICULTIES
KW - SEXUAL HEALTH
KW - SEXUAL SATISFACTION
KW - SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85152145236
U2 - 10.1136/sextrans-2022-055680
DO - 10.1136/sextrans-2022-055680
M3 - Article
C2 - 36973042
AN - SCOPUS:85152145236
SN - 1368-4973
VL - 99
SP - 386
EP - 397
JO - Sexually Transmitted Infections
JF - Sexually Transmitted Infections
IS - 6
ER -
