Table 3

Acceptability of alternative models to in-person sexual health services and association with avoiding/delaying seeking testing or sexual healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic

VariableTotal with sexual health need
n=706
At least one factor leading to avoiding/delaying seeking testing or sexual healthcare
n=458
No factors reported
n=231
Unadjusted OR
(95% CI)
Likelihood of using the following services (very likely/likely vs other)
Home self-collection kits for testing634/706 (90%)417/458 (91%)202/231 (87%)1.46 (0.86 to 2.41)
Receiving test kits or antibiotics at home, in plain packaging592/700 (85%)390/454 (86%)188/230 (82%)1.36 (0.88 to 2.08)
Express testing service, where after a phone/video assessment go to a clinic to have specimens collected565/706 (80%)361/458 (79%)189/231 (82%)0.83 (0.55 to 1.23)
Text messaging service that provides STI results530/700 (76%)360/457 (79%)159/227 (70%)1.59 (1.10 to 2.28)
Phone call with a sexual healthcare provider to discuss sexual health481/704 (68%)312/458 (68%)160/230 (70%)0.93 (0.66 to 1.31)
Sending a picture of a rash or lesion to a healthcare provider461/702 (66%)308/457 (67%)145/229 (63%)1.20 (0.86 to 1.67)
Text messaging service for reminders (eg, medications, appointments)473/701 (67%)307/455 (67%)152/229 (66%)1.05 (0.75 to 1.47)
Video visit with a sexual healthcare provider to discuss sexual health405/703 (58%)269/457 (59%)130/230 (57%)1.10 (0.80 to 1.52)
Texting with a sexual healthcare provider to discuss sexual health374/699 (54%)253/455 (56%)110/228 (48%)1.34 (0.98 to 1.85)
  • Denominators for each variable exclude missing values. Column percentages were calculated excluding missing values per variable.

  • Bold: 95% CI excludes 1.