STI testing, diagnoses and online chlamydia self-sampling among young people during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in England

Abstract

Purpose COVID-19 control measures reduced face-to-face appointments at sexual health services (SHSs). Remote access to SHSs through online self-sampling was increased. This analysis assesses how these changes affected service use and STI testing among 15–24 year olds (‘young people’) in England. Methods Data on all chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis tests from 2019-2020, among English-resident young people were obtained from national STI surveillance datasets. We calculated proportional differences in tests and diagnoses for each STI, by demographic characteristics, including socioeconomic deprivation, between 2019–2020. Binary logistic regression was used to determine crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) between demographic characteristics and being tested for chlamydia by an online service. Results Compared to 2019, there were declines in testing (chlamydia-30%; gonorrhoea-26%; syphilis-36%) and diagnoses (chlamydia-31%; gonorrhoea-25%; syphilis-23%) among young people in 2020. Reductions were greater amongst 15-19 year-olds vs. 20-24 year-olds. Amongst people tested for chlamydia, those living in the least deprived areas were more likely to be tested using an online self-sampling kit (males; OR = 1.24 [1.22–1.26], females; OR = 1.28 [1.27–1.30]). Conclusion The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in England saw declines in STI testing and diagnoses in young people and disparities in the use of online chlamydia self-sampling which risk widening existing health inequalities.