The Engage COVID-19 study seeks to document SARS-COV-2 infection, immunity and related determinants among gay and bisexual men (GBM), and to examine how this population perceives and is impacted by measures to curb the spread of the disease.
We are using a mixed-methods approach (using quantitative questions and qualitative interviews in French and English) to understand how the pandemic is impacting GBM in terms of uptake and implementation of COVID-19 messaging, and the interrelated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual behaviours and access to HIV and STI testing, treatment, and prevention (e.g., PrEP), mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression, and loneliness) and substance use patterns.
The study’s aims can be broken down into biomedical aspects (such as the occurrence of, and exposure to, COVID-19) as well as behavioural and psychosocial ones (including mitigation strategies and mental health outcomes).
Learn more by reading the full study description.
| Study Design | Cohort |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| End Year | 2021 |
| General Information on Follow Up (profile frequency) | The first wave of data collection was completed in April 2021 and the second wave of data collection is on-going (anticipated completion in October 2021). |
| Gender | Men only |
| Minimum age | 17 |
| Countries | Canada |
| Territory | Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal |
| Other Criteria | Self-identify as a Gay and Bisexual Men (GBM), including transgender GBM, reported having sex with another man within the past 6 months, and able to read English or French. |
| Number of Participants | 1842 |
| Number of Participants with Biological Samples | 1842 |
| Supplementary Information | Vancouver: 565 participants Toronto: 388 participants Montreal: 889 participants |
Engage
May 17th, 2021