Visits to Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinics in Italy from January 2016 to November 2021: A Multicenter,...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a significant public health concern globally.
• Understanding trends in STI clinic visits is crucial for resource allocation and intervention strategies.
• The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented public health measures that may have impacted healthcare-seeking behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trends and seasonality of visits to sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics in Italy before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To assess the impact of the pandemic on the number and seasonal distribution of STI clinic attendances.

Main Methods:

• An observational, retrospective, multicentric study was conducted.
• Data on visits to STI clinics in Ferrara and Bologna, Italy, were collected from January 2016 to November 2021.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, including seasonal variations.

Main Results:

• A total of 11,733 visits were recorded over 70 months.
• Monthly visits significantly decreased during the pandemic (mean 136) compared to the pre-pandemic period (mean 177).
• Pre-pandemic seasonality showed higher visits in autumn/winter, which reversed to higher visits in spring/summer during the pandemic. A marked decrease was observed in pandemic winter months.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in visits to Italian STI clinics.
• A reversal in the seasonal pattern of STI clinic visits was observed during the pandemic.
• Public health measures like lockdowns and social distancing likely contributed to reduced social interactions and, consequently, fewer STI clinic visits, particularly during colder months.