Changes in sexual activities and risky sexual behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review
Alinaghi Seyed Seyed Ahmad,
Karimi Amirali,
Mirzapour Pegah,
Qaderi Kowsar,
Mohammadi Parsa,
Salehi Mohammad Amin,
Tantuoyir Marcarious M.,
Arjmand Ghazal,
Shahmohamadi Elnaz,
Mahalleh Mehrdad,
Kianzad Shaghayegh,
Pashaei Ava,
Khodaei Sepideh,
Afsahi Amir Masoud,
Mehraeen Esmaeil
Affiliations
Alinaghi Seyed Seyed Ahmad
Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Karimi Amirali
School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mirzapour Pegah
Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Qaderi Kowsar
Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Mohammadi Parsa
School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Salehi Mohammad Amin
Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Tantuoyir Marcarious M.
School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran + Biomedical Engineering Unit, University of Ghana Medical Center (UGMC), Accra, Ghana
Arjmand Ghazal
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shahmohamadi Elnaz
School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahalleh Mehrdad
School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Kianzad Shaghayegh
School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Pashaei Ava
Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran + School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Khodaei Sepideh
Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Afsahi Amir Masoud
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), California, USA
Mehraeen Esmaeil
Department of Health Information Technology, Khalkhal University of Medical Sciences, Khalkhal, Iran
Several studies reported changes in sexual activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews in this field. We aimed to systematically review the changes in sexual activities and risky sexual behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist to improve transparency of our study. The results indicated a considerable decline in the frequency of sexual intercourse, particularly in singles and people with casual dating. Factors associated with sexual activity during the COVID-19 restrictions were depression, stress, lack of intimacy, inability to leave home, work schedule shifting, poor privacy, fear of COVID-19, lack of nightlife, and university educational level. Considering different groups of the population concerning their sexual behaviors is a necessary step in approaching healthy sexual behavior strategies, through which the adverse effects of a pandemic are minimized.
