Like many important aspects of health and wellbeing, sexual reproductive health (SRH) has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Measuring and monitoring SRH is crucial given the potential for drastic changes in people's behaviours and in the delivery of SRH services.
The initial response to COVID-19 involved a rapid contraction of SRH services, with many halted (e.g asymptomatic STI testing) and only people with the severest symptoms seen face-to-face. During the first nationwide lockdown (from 23rd March 2020), UK citizens were effectively banned from intimate contact with anyone outside their household for a three-month period. The Natsal-COVID study aims to provide high-quality data to assess how these measures impacted sexual and reproductive health.
For further information about the study please contact Professor Nigel Field (nigel.field@ucl.ac.uk) or Professor Kirstin Mitchell (kirstin.mitchell@glasgow.ac.uk).
- Methodology
- Data and tables
- Outputs
Web-panel survey
The Natsal-COVID study team has worked with Ipsos MORI to run two web-panel surveys. We used quota-based sampling and weighting with the aim of obtaining a quasi-representative sample of the British population.
Wave 1 was conducted in July 2020 and surveyed 6,500 people aged 18-59 years across Britain to capture data on sexual behaviour, sexual relationships and service use during the four months following the first national lockdown in March 2020.
Wave 2 was conducted from 27 March to 26 April 2021 and surveyed 6,500 participants aged 18-59 years one year after the start of the first UK lockdown with the aim to capture data on the longer-term impacts of the pandemic. Data were collected for key SRH outcomes, including chlamydia/HIV testing, pregnancy and abortion, and intimate partner violence. Wave 2 included 2000 individuals who also participated in Wave 1 to enable both longitudinal and cross-sectional comparisons.
Qualitative interviews
We carried out qualitative follow-up interviews with 45 survey participants who agreed to re-contact. Qualitative interviews were conducted with survey participants who reported:
- sexual activity with someone in a different household during the first lockdown and subsequent restrictions
- difficulties accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
- relational difficulties with their partner
By using quotas, we ensured variation by age, gender, ethnicity and region of Britain.
Read the published paper about the methodology of Natsal-COVID Wave 1 here, and of the Natsal-COVID Wave 2 paper here.
Please note that the survey weights described in the technical report have been subsequently updated. Please refer to the Natsal-COVID methods paper for information on final weighting.
The Natsal COVID-19 Study data has been archived with the UK Data Service - find out more in accessing the data.
Papers published from Natsal-COVID
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How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect access to condoms, chlamydia and HIV testing, and cervical cancer screening at a population level in Britain? (Natsal-COVID) - here
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Sexual and Reproductive Health in Britain During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: National Population Survey (Natsal-COVID Study) - here
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Initial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health service use and unmet need in Britain: findings from a quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID) - here
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Impacts of COVID-19 on sexual behaviour in Britain: findings from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID) - here
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Intimate physical contact between people from different households during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods study from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID) - here
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Initial impacts of COVID-19 on sex life and relationship quality in steady relationships in Britain: findings from a large, quasi-representative survey (Natsal-COVID) - here
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Access to and quality of sexual and reproductive health services in Britain during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study of patient experiences - here
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Balancing risk, intimacy and (non)compliance: a qualitative study of sex across household during COVID-19 social restrictions - here
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Scotland report: Sexual and reproductive health in Scotland during the first year of the COVID pandemic (March 2020 - March 2021) - here
Presentations and posters:
This video presentation is from the Natsal-COVID study webinar on November 30th and shows the study's preliminary findings. These describe changes in sexual partnerships and practices, impacts on SRH services and on relationships, and the extent to which intimacy needs have affected COVID risk.
This video is a recording of the presentation given by members of the Natsal-COVID study team, for the BASHH symposium during the STI & HIV 2021 World Conference, July 2021.
You can also access Natsal-COVID abstracts and posters from the BASHH/BHIVA 2021 and BASHH 2022 conferences.