Impact of the Lockdown Due to COVID-19 Pandemic in the Use of Combined Hormonal Oral Contraception in Spain – Results of a National Survey: Encovid

Abstract

Objective: To know the contraceptive behaviour of Spanish women who use combined oral contraception (COC) during the period of lockdown due to COVID-19. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study of a sample of Spanish women who use COC based on a survey conducted through social networks using the online platform Survey Monkey. The survey was conducted during the period of home confinement. Results: A total of 1407 women answered the survey and 937 were valid for the analysis. A total of 675 women (71.8%) were confined all day at home. During confinement 96,6% of women continued to use the COC, 53.5% responded that their sexual activity decreased during this time and 54% that their physical activity had decreased. A significant percentage of women (10.3%) recognized a worsening of premenstrual symptoms. Conclusion:Despite the lockdown and the decrease in the frequency of sexual intercourse, the Spanish women who use COC did not abandon its use during the period of time analysed.

Women’s Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services during Confinement Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain

“…Confinement ushered in some changes in women's lifestyles, with their sexual habits among them. As is the case in other studies, our results indicated that the frequency of sexual relationships was reduced among women [17,18], being even lower in those that did not live with their partners.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to and utilisation of services for sexual and reproductive health: a scoping review

“…Studies were conducted in all seven major geographical (World Bank) regions of the world; 28% of the studies were done in North America,28–50 28% in sub-Saharan Africa,51–73 20% in Europe and Central Asia,74–90 8% in East Asia & Pacific,91–97 5% in Latin America and the Caribbean,98–101 2% in South Asia102 103 and 1% in the Middle East and North Africa 104. Studies were conducted in more than 34 countries.…”

“…displays the characteristics of included studies. There was a relatively even distribution of studies across SRH focus areas: 30 (36%) provided evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to or utilisation of contraceptive services,28 29 32 35 37 40 42 47 51–54 57 58 63 67 68 71 73 75 78 82 83 88 91 93 97 104 109 110 21 (25%) on abortion services,30 32–35 40 43 49–52 68 73 80 87 89 90 93 99 103 109 20 (24%) on GBV/IPV services28 31 36 38 39 45 46 48 74 76 77 81 84 86 98 101 102 105 107 109 and 33 (40%) on STI-related services 35 40 41 44 53 55–62 64–66 69–73 79 85 91–96 100 104 106 108 Figure 2. illustrates the distribution of studies among each of the four SRH service focus area by region and by study type.…”

“…In addition, lack of information,53 59 83 86 91 105 fear of contracting COVID-19 at a service location and lack of privacy to schedule or attend appointments resulted in reduced SRH service access and utilisation 35 36 60 61 64 71 83 91 97 105 108 109. Self-censorship of needs also limited access to care for some individuals who sought contraception and STI/HIV services 82 90. On the supply side, limited availability of medical and social resources such as stockouts, shortages of staff, clinic closures and decrease in shelters were reported to have prohibited utilisation of services for all SRH services, HIV/STI, GBV/IPV and contraception especially 31 35 36 40 44 53 59 62 64 71 74 79 83 85 92 97 105 107 109.…”

“…35 36 60 61 64 71 83 91 97 105 108 109 Self-censorship of needs also limited access to care for some individuals who sought contraception and STI/HIV services. 82…”