COVID-19 and the impact on services for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections: Overview
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges related to the delivery of and access to healthcare due to public health measures and health system capacity have been reported across Canada. This includes sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI)-related, harm reduction and mental health services in Canada. Certain populations face greater challenges in accessing care due to:
- stigma and discrimination
- systemic racism
- sex and gender
- socioeconomic factors such as income, housing, employment
- quality and availability of health services
As a result, these service disruptions may have had a greater impact on the health of the marginalized and racialized populations, including:
- African, Caribbean and Black people
- people who use drugs or alcohol
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis people
We conducted 4 national online surveys among healthcare service providers and these 3 populations. This will help us to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected delivery and access to:
- STBBI testing, prevention and treatment services
- harm reduction services
The 4 surveys are:
- Survey among service providers
- Survey among African, Caribbean and Black people
- Survey among people who use drugs or alcohol
- Survey among First Nations, Inuit and Métis people
The information collected will:
- provide context to better interpret STBBI trends during this time
- be used to inform policy and programs that aim to address the unintended consequences of public health measures put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Canada
For more information about these surveys, contact phac.tracks.aspc@canada.ca.