FRHD 2100 Written Assignment

docx

School

University of Guelph *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

2100

Subject

Sociology

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by CoachTeam5417

1 The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Sexually Transmitted Infections Taylor M Boulton Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph FRHD 2100: Development of Human Sexuality Dr. Alice-Simone Balter July 15, 2022

2 The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly transformed several influential elements of human sexuality. From the ways in which individuals are meeting and initiating sex, to the prospect of a relationship’s satisfaction and longevity, many things have changed. Accordingly, sexuality and relationship researchers have been hard at work to uncover the extent to which people’s sexual lives have been impacted. Many of the research headlines are focused on more trivial matters such as “how to spice things up in the bedroom during quarantine,” or “quarin-tine sexy time.” However, some of their most substantial findings have been in the research domain of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Specifically, how the Covid-19 pandemic will contribute to an increased incidence of STIs. In the beginning of the pandemic, US cases of gonorrhea, syphilis, and congenital syphilis briefly declined, then rose considerably for the remainder of the year (Tanne, 2022). In 2020, the CDC reported 2.4 million cases of STIs in the US and compared them to the cases in 2016 (Tanne, 2022). As this statistic included only reported cases, it should be cautioned as a possible underestimation (Tanne, 2022). To summarize, there were 133 945 cases of syphilis (a 52% increase from 2016), 677 769 cases of gonorrhea (a 45% increase from 2016), and 2145 cases of congenital syphilis (a 235% increase from 2016) (Tanne, 2022). Conversely, there were only 1579 885 cases of chlamydia (a 1.2% decrease from 2016) (Tanne, 2022). This however, is not nearly as substantial as the other increases and was likely attributed to lack of testing resources available during the onset of the pandemic. Additionally, chlamydia often does not cause obvious symptoms and thus without testing, most individuals would infect others without awareness. Most people would be shocked to learn of this imminent pandemic-influenced surge in STIs because of the isolating nature of disease management. To explain, with the entire populace

3 being forced into a mandatory quarantine that prohibited contact with people outside of immediate family, going out for non-essential purposes, and exposing your nose and/or mouth, one would assume that there would be quite a significant decline in sexual activity. Additionally, the closure of leisure venues reduces the opportunity for casual sex partners and substance- influences unprotected sex ( Balestri et al. , 2020). These barriers may seem to have contributed to the reported temporary decrease in STIs. However, this decrease was short-lived and likely attributed to the lack of screening available at the time ( Balestri et al. , 2020). As previous pandemics have proved, it seems that “not having sex is not an option” ( Balestri et al. , 2020). To explain, in the 1980’s AIDS pandemic, sexual activity was largely discouraged by health care professionals and the media ( Balestri et al. , 2020). However, several studies reported that even during a time in which sexual behaviour was known to greatly increased people’s risk of mortality and was heavily discouraged, there seemed to be no reduction in such sexual behaviour ( Balestri et al. , 2020). Additionally, this innacurate thinking may have even given people a false sense of security, leading to more sexually permiscuous activity ( Balestri et al. , 2020). Another reason for an increase in STIs during the pandemic is the priority that hospitals placed on Covid-19 related cases ( Balestri et al. , 2020). To explain, when case numbers were spinking, hospitals were struggling to accommodate patients while maintaining safety and disease control protocols. Accordingly, non-emergent cases and non-Covid related appointments were often delayed. This resulted in a surplus of new undiagnosed and untreated STI cases ( Balestri et al. , 2020). For example, the most common missed opportunity in preventing congenital syphilis occurred because 41% of mothers were unable to receive timely prenatal care or syphilis testing (Tanne, 2022). Later in the pandemic, when beds became available and appointments resumed, people were still trying to avoid hospitals because of the Covid-related

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 contagion risk they posed ( Balestri et al. , 2020). In addition, many people have adopted a fear of hospitals on account of the trauma they may have experienced during Covid. For example, some saw their family members and friends go into the hospital and never come out. Now, they either fear the same fate or do not want to be reminded of the experience. Additionally, the implementation of over-the-phone doctors appointments was deleterious to the doctor-patient relationship. This disconnect may have made many patients feel uncomfortable discussing their sexual health over the phone with their doctor. A possible result could have been patients disclosing less information than they typically would have ( Balestri et al. , 2020). Overall, reduced hospital visits and a diversion of health care resources leads to reduced screening and more undiagnosed infections. Interestingly, it seems that the pandemic has done the most damage in regards to its contribution to the increase in STI incidence in its conclusion. To expand, as the pandemic begins to wane, restrictions are lifted, and leisure venues reopen, people are participating in more wild activities. Much like the events ensuing the prohibition, it seems that society is entering a modern day “roaring twenties” in response to lifting the strict quarantine rules. People are booking vacations, attending more social gatherings, and frequenting the bars more often. Such settings can lead to increased opportunities for sexual activities (Sentís et al ., 2021). One would hope that years of wearing masks, frequently getting tested, and negotiating cautious socializing would lead to more people practicing safe sex. Unfortunately, this is not the case. A survey done with college students confirmed that most students did not improve their safe-sex behavious after the pandemic (Sentís et al ., 2021) . Overall, this pandemic-induced increase in STIs will change sexuality in several positive and negative ways. The main disadvantage is that there is now an unprecedented amount of STI

5 cases. This means that individuals need to be more careful than ever before as their odds of sleeping with a carrier are more likely. Another negative outcome to consider is the increase in unaware affected individuals. Because of the lack of testing, hospital avoidance, fear of hospitals, and impersonal relationships with doctors, many people will not know that they are a carrier ( Balestri et al. , 2020) . Contrairly, there are also several benefits to this otherwise unfortunate situation. The situation emphasized how important adequate health care is by demonstrating what would happen without it. It also proved the need to continue to spread awareness and educate on safe-sex proceedures, even during a pandemic. To explain, the media was fixated on Covid-19 safety protocols such as social distancing, mask donning, and hand washing. Seldom was safe-sex mentioned. In the future, several lessons need to be learned from mistakes made during this pandemic. Mainly as the incidence of STIs increase, people need to be more cautious with their sexual practices. Appropriately, people should get tested more often and utilize condoms more accurately and consistently. Accordingly, there should be more operational testing facilities opened. This would be especially helpful in the event of another pandemic as they would function as a completely separate medical resource that would not need to be redirected. Furthermore, the government needs to formulate a better plan for handling future pandemics in general. This plan should include a better strategy for accommodating sexual health. For example, not discontinuing the advertisement and promotion of safe sex and maintaining fully operational sexual health care facilities. References

6 Balestri R, Magnano M, Rizzoli L, Infusino SD, Urbani F, Rech G. STIs and the COVID-19 pandemic: the lockdown does not stop sexual infections. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020 Dec;34(12):e766-e768. doi: 10.1111/jdv.16808. Epub 2020 Jul 27. PMID: 32652791; PMCID: PMC7405161. Sentís, A., Prats-Uribe, A., López-Corbeto, E., Montoro-Fernandez, M., Nomah, D. K., de Olalla, P. G., Mercuriali, L., Borrell, N., Guadalupe-Fernández, V., Reyes-Urueña, J., Casabona, J., Sentís, A., López, E., Gonzalez, V., Lugo, R., Bonamusa, M. P., Reyes, J., Casabona, J., de Olalla, P. G., … Hernández, S. (2021). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexually transmitted infections surveillance data: Incidence drop or artefact? BMC Public Health , 21 (1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11630-x6 Tanne, J. H. (2022). Covid-19: Sexually transmitted diseases surged in US during pandemic. BMJ . https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o1275

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Related Documents

quiz.docx

Second Shift.docx

Question 1.docx

Lit Review Outline.docx

essay_reading_quiz_1_ (1).docx

Quiz Answers Chapters 1-7.docx

Assignment 10 Brooklyn Irwin.docx

SYO 3100 - Chapter 2 Notes.docx

Theorys.docx

Untitled document-3.docx

JAN 23 & 25 FORMULATING RESEARCH QUESTION AND OPERATIONALIZING VARIABLES.docx

Term Paper Proposal.docx

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134641287

Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Publisher:Pearson College Div

Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780393639407

Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum

Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company

The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...

Sociology

ISBN:9781305503076

Author:Earl R. Babbie

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...

Sociology

ISBN:9780134477596

Author:Saferstein, Richard

Publisher:PEARSON

Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134205571

Author:James M. Henslin

Publisher:PEARSON

Society: The Basics (14th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134206325

Author:John J. Macionis

Publisher:PEARSON

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Pearson College Div
Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780393639407
Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...
Sociology
ISBN:9781305503076
Author:Earl R. Babbie
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...
Sociology
ISBN:9780134477596
Author:Saferstein, Richard
Publisher:PEARSON
Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134205571
Author:James M. Henslin
Publisher:PEARSON
Society: The Basics (14th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134206325
Author:John J. Macionis
Publisher:PEARSON