Women's Utilization of Contraceptive Methods during COVID-19 Pandemic in Zagazig city

Abstract

Background:The COVID-19 pandemic poses a number of problems for health systems around the world, especially those related to reproductive health, with an uneven impact on those with the fewest resources. Aim of the study: was to assess women utilization of contraceptive methods during COVID-19 pandemic in zagazig city. Subjects and method: Study design: Descriptive study. Setting: The study was conducted at two settings: El-Nahal and Ghazala maternal and child health center in Zagazig city. Subjects: A purposive sample of 290 women in the child bearing age was included in the study. Tools of data collection: Two tools were used; Structured interview questionnaire and questionnaire of women's utilization of contraceptive methods during COVID-19 pandemic in Zagazig city. Results: More than two fifth of the studied women who were using contraception for the first time or change to a new method preferred to use hormonal methods followed by natural methods, barrier methods and finally copper IUD. Transportation and administrative barriers were the main barriers during covid-19 pandemic that lead to stop/discontinuation of FP methods. Conclusion:The vast majority of women were visiting MCH to obtain regular methods, others were the first time or switching to new method. The most commonly utilized methods by the majority of women were hormonal methods; lower percentages were using natural methods and the least used were barrier methods with slight increase in utilization of natural and barrier methods than before COVID-19. Recommendations: Promoting public facilities and centers with universal infection control measures and those services offered that are up to the quality standards can help increase women's use of contraceptive methods during COVID-19 as this will lessen the fear of attracting infection for both health care providers and women seeking contraceptive care in these facilities.