Purpose: Measures to control COVID-19 reduced face-to-face appointments and walk-ins at sexual health services (SHSs). Remote access to SHSs through online self-sampling for STIs was increased. This analysis assesses how these changes affected service use and STI testing among young people in England. Methods: Data on all chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis tests from 2019-2020 amongst English-resident 15-24 year olds (hereafter referred to as young people) were obtained from national STI surveillance datasets. We calculated proportional differences in tests and diagnoses for each STI, by demographic characteristics including age and socioeconomic deprivation, between 2019 and 2020. Among those tested for chlamydia, we used binary logistic regression 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 (30% for chlamydia, 26% for gonorrhoea, 36% for syphilis) and diagnoses (31% for chlamydia, 25% for gonorrhoea and 23% for syphilis) among young people in 2020. These reductions were greater amongst 15-19 year-olds (vs. 20-24 year-olds). Among young people tested for chlamydia, those living in the least deprived areas were more likely to be tested using an online self-sampling kit compared to those living in the most deprived areas (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.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This study did not receive any funding

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This study was undertaken for health protection purposes under the permissions granted to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to collect and process pseudonymised surveillance data under Regulation 3 of The Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2020 and under Section 251 of the National Health Service (NHS) Act 2006.

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