Understanding Perceived Risks and Sexual Behavior Among Adolescents and Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: We sought to describe the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and sexual behaviors among urban adolescents and young adults (AYA).

Methods: Data were collected from 159 urban AYAs on COVID-19 risk perception, COVID-19 infections and deaths, romantic relationships, and sexual behavior during the stay-at-home order using a telephone survey.

Results: Seventy-nine percent of the study participants engaged in sexual intercourse during the stay-at-home order. Only 38% of these used condoms during their last sexual encounter. Experiencing COVID-19 positivity within their social circle was not related to COVID-19 testing. Concern for COVID-19 infection or experiencing a COVID-19 diagnosis or death in one's social circles was not associated with sexual intercourse or condom use.

Discussion: Urban AYA remained at risk for sexually transmitted infections, and COVID-19, given high baseline community rates of sexually transmitted infections and COVID-19, low condom use, and low COVID-19 risk perception at the time of the survey.

Keywords: Adolescents and young adults (AYA); Coronavirus 2019 (COVID -19); Risk perception; Sexual health; Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).