Characterizing the Impact of COVID-19 on Men Who Have Sex with Men Across the United States in April, 2020

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Travis Sanchez, Emory University; Maria Zlotorzynska, Emory University; Mona Rai, Emory University; Stefan D. Baral, Johns Hopkins University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-04-29
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10461-020-02894-2
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Aids and Behavior
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 7
• Start Page: 2024
• End Page: 2032
• Grant/Funding Information: The study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health [Grant No. P30AI050409 and R01MH110358].
• Keywords: MSM; Coronavirus; COVID-19; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology; Biomedical Social Sciences; HIV; Social Sciences, Biomedical; Gay; Social Sciences
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety; Engineering, Biomedical; Health Sciences, Immunology

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is reinforcing health inequities among vulnerable populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted a rapid online survey (April 2 to April 13, 2020) of COVID-19 related impacts on the sexual health of 1051 US MSM. Many participants had adverse impacts to general wellbeing, social interactions, money, food, drug use and alcohol consumption. Half had fewer sex partners and most had no change in condom access or use. Some reported challenges in accessing HIV testing, prevention and treatment services. Compared to older MSM, those 15–24 years were more likely to report economic and service impacts. While additional studies of COVID-19 epidemiology among MSM are needed, there is already evidence of emerging interruptions to HIV-related services. Scalable remote solutions such as telehealth and mailed testing and prevention supplies may be urgently needed to avert increased HIV incidence among MSM during the COVID-19 pandemic era.