The impact of COVID-19 on contraception and abortion care policy and practice: experiences from selected countries

Contraceptive dynamics during COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: longitudinal evidence from Burkina Faso and Kenya

“…► Fourteen percent of women at risk of unintended pregnancy and not using contraception in Kenya Original research mobility restrictions, service disruptions and economic insecurity, which inhibit access to time-sensitive care. [4][5][6][7][8][9] Adding to the existing challenges of satisfying women's need for contraception in the region, 10 the pandemic may increase rates of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion. 11 Women's fertility intentions and need for contraception may also change due to unpredictable economic circumstances.…”

The role of telehealth in sexual and reproductive health services in the response to COVID-19

“…2,4,14 We understand that any service related to reproductive health that uses electronic communication technologyto provide contraception services or counselling constitutes a safe option positive costeffectiveness. 4,14,15 Concomitant to the incentive to the use of telehealth in reproductive planning services, some medical associations started to adopt new recommendation based on scientific evidences in response to threats that the pandemic brought to women's sexual and reproductive health and their family's wellbeing. The postponing of surgical sterilization, the expanded off-label use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), such as Intra Uterine Devices (IUD) and implants, are some guidelines that have been orientating in a largely prudent way some reproductive and sexual health services.…”

“…[16][17][18] Innovations in several contraceptive practices were implemented in different situations. The United Kingdom Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada preconize the remote prescription of progesterone pills, isolated or combined to estrogen, during the pandemics, for up to one year, [15][16][17] besides recommending women who want injectable contraception to search for tutorial videos about DMPA auto injection (Depot Medroxyprogesterone). 19 In California, USA, drivethrough services for injectable contraceptives, as well as the supply of injectable contraceptives for self-administration directly in drugstores have been one of the offered services that deserve to be highlighted.…”

“…19 In California, USA, drivethrough services for injectable contraceptives, as well as the supply of injectable contraceptives for self-administration directly in drugstores have been one of the offered services that deserve to be highlighted. 15 Countless visits for counselling and follow-up of the use of contraceptive methods have been globally executed by means of tele-support, where the health providers that work in region with scarce inputs such as many Brazilian cities, perform an approach aiming individual needs of each user, trying to use the available technological resources in an effective way.…”

“…In this way, it is yet recommended the scheduling of consultations, organization of waiting rooms following all the social distancing procedures and the use of adequate equipment of personal protection. 15 In that perspective, we support the access to services of high quality reproductive planning which use telehealth and offer a broad variety of contraceptive methods, always respecting the autonomy, dignity and confidentiality principles of the user, which are independent of the pandemic context. 7,15 Users of telehealth services capable of planning their reproductive future, who can have the option of prevent a unwanted gestation in a safe manner, deciding about when and how many children they want to have, choosing the timespan between the gestations, as well as the moment to limit their families in a safe and healthy manner, are confident and socially included users.…”