Increased Depression and Anxiety Among Men and Transgender Women Receiving Care at a Sexual Health Clinic in New York City During COVID-19 - Summary - MDSpire
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Increased Depression and Anxiety Among Men and Transgender Women Receiving Care at a Sexual Health Clinic in New York City During COVID-19
To examine changes in self-reported depression and anxiety scores among clients in a sexual health clinic in NYC before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (specifically from March 2020 onwards).
Key Findings:
Post-COVID-19 participants reported significantly higher mean PHQ-9 (5.7 ± 5.3) and GAD-7 (5.1 ± 5.0) scores compared to pre-COVID-19 participants (3.6 ± 4.2 and 3.9 ± 4.3, respectively; P < .001 for PHQ-9, P = .019 for GAD-7).
Post-COVID-19 participants were more likely to be uninsured or on Medicaid (20% vs 2.7% uninsured; 30% vs 18% on Medicaid; P < .001).
Increased reports of intimate partner violence victimization post-COVID-19 (45% vs 24%; P = .003).
Adjusted GLMM indicated a mean increase of 1.55 in PHQ-9 scores post-COVID-19 (P < .04).
Interpretation:
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly exacerbated depression and anxiety among men who have sex with men and transgender women accessing sexual health services, highlighting the urgent need for integrated mental health services in sexual health care settings, especially during public health crises.
Limitations:
The study is based on self-reported data, which may be subject to bias.
The cross-sectional design limits causal inferences regarding the impact of COVID-19 on mental health.
The pandemic may have affected data collection methods, potentially influencing the results.
Conclusion:
The findings underscore the importance of providing accessible mental health services within sexual health care settings, particularly in the context of ongoing public health crises.
Protection against spread appeared strongest within 6 months of vaccination, while exposed vaccinated contacts showed no measurable reduction in infection risk.
