Care-seeking in the presence of signs of sexually transmitted infections in Moroccan women: A comparison between the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-pandemic era

Nezha  Nacer; Nadia  Ouzennou; Samia  Rkha

doi:10.18502/npt.v12i1.17526

Nezha Nacer Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
Nadia Ouzennou Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
Samia Rkha Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/npt.v12i1.17526

Keywords: COVID-19; sexually transmitted infections; care-seeking; women of childbearing age; Morocco

Abstract

Background & Aim: The emergence of COVID-19 has had significant effects on access to screening services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study aimed to describe the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on care-seeking in the presence of signs of STIs among women of childbearing age in the Essaouira province of Morocco between April and June 2020.

Materials & Methods: A comparative and cross-sectional approach was used for the objectives of the study. It was a comparative analysis of the programmatic data from April, May, and June 2019 and from April, May, and June 2020. In addition, data were collected from women of childbearing age in 2021 via a questionnaire.

Results: Among the 1,100 selected women, 425 who reported having experienced symptoms of STIs during the COVID-19 pandemic were interviewed. 72.2% reported seeking health care from a qualified professional. The study revealed a relationship between women's healthcare seeking during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.05) and factors such as place of residence, education, marital status, socioeconomic status, and distance from healthcare facilities. The analysis of the distribution of data regarding syndromic reporting of STIs, between 2019 and 2020, revealed a difference of 17.2%.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic hindered the search for treatments for signs of STIs in women of childbearing age, with a 17.2% decrease in cases in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. However, the role of healthcare professionals remains crucial for maintaining awareness, screening, and treatment of these infections.