Affiliation:
1. Department Of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Government Vellore Medical College, Vellore, 632011
2. S
Abstract
Background The global COVID-19 pandemic was not only directly responsible for immeasurable COVID-related morbidity and mortality but
also had an indirect impact on incidence and transmission prole of various Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) due to sexual distancing and
service interruption. Long-term implications of these conicting factors on the STI epidemic have not yet been fully gauged. Aim of study To
evaluate the prevalence and pattern of STIs in an earmarked population before, during and after the COVID pandemic. Methods A retrospective
analysis of patients who reported to STI OPD of a tertiary care centre in South India over 5 years from 2018 to 2022 was performed and the varying
clinical trends, prevalence and transmission dynamics of sexually transmitted infections were analyzed. Results The prevalence of STI in patients
reported has been recorded at 12.83% (2018), 12.30% (2019), 13.01% (2020), 7.80% (2021) and 7.45 % (2022). The increased prevalence of STIs
in 2020 may be due to the reduced overall census in STI Clinic. True to service interruption, HIV cases in year 2020 was recorded at an all-time low
of 32 followed by an increase to 103 and 101 in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Bacterial STIs, especially Syphilis, have displayed a rising trend as
evident by the prevalence of 11.05% in 2022. as opposed to the prevalence of 3.24% in 2018 Conclusion The shift in STI clinical trends could be
partly attributed to the restrictive measures enforced by the Government during COVID and partly by psychosocial behavioural changes brought
about by the post-COVID pandemic situation. The increasing trend of bacterial STIs in the post COVID years has to be curtailed with targeted
interventions. Preventive and early treatment strategies among high-risk behaviour groups need to be strengthened to keep the STIs under control
in post covid era
Subject
Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics,Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering,Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Biochemistry,Instrumentation,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics,Analytical Chemistry,General Engineering,Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Metals and Alloys,Surfaces, Coatings and Films,Condensed Matter Physics,Instrumentation,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials,Materials Chemistry,Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Metals and Alloys,Surfaces, Coatings and Films,Condensed Matter Physics,Instrumentation,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials,General Materials Science,Instrumentation,Philosophy,Filtration and Separation,Process Chemistry and Technology,General Chemical Engineering,Analytical Chemistry,Filtration and Separation,Analytical Chemistry