The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on sexual and reproductive health in Georgia, USA: An exploration of behaviors, contraceptive care, and partner abuse

Abstract

Objective: Assessing access to sexual and reproductive health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV), and exploring sociodemographic disparities STUDY DESIGN: From September 2020 to January 2021, we recruited 436 individuals assigned female at birth (18-49 years.) in Georgia, USA for an online survey. The final convenience sample was n = 423; a response rate could not be calculated. Survey themes included: sociodemographic and financial information, access to contraceptive services/care, IPV, and pregnancy. Respondents who reported a loss of health insurance, difficulty accessing contraception, barriers to medical care, or IPV were characterized as having a negative sexual and reproductive health experience during the pandemic. We explored associations between sociodemographic variables and negative sexual and reproductive health experiences.

Results: Since March 2020, 66/436 (16%) of respondents lost their health insurance, and 45% (89/436) reported income loss. Of our sample, 144/436 people (33%) attempted to access contraception. The pandemic made contraceptive access more difficult for 38/144 (26%) of respondents; however, 106/144 (74%) said it had no effect or positive effect on access. Twenty-one respondents reported IPV (5%). COVID-19 amplified negative views of unplanned pregnancy. Seventy-six people (18%) reported at least 1 negative sexual and reproductive health experience during the pandemic; people in an urban setting and those identifying as homo/bisexual were more likely to report negative experiences (24%, 28% respectively).

Conclusion: Urban and sexual minority populations had negative sexual and reproductive health experiences during COVID-19 more than their counterparts. The pandemic has shifted perspectives on family planning, likely due to the diverse impacts of COVID-19, including loss of health insurance and income.

Implication: Females across Georgia reported varying impacts of the COVID-19's pandemic on their sexual and reproductive health care. These findings could be utilized to propose recommendations for care and intimate partner violence support mechanisms, tailored to urban and sexual minority populations.

Keywords: Access; Barriers; COVID-19; Contraception; Disparities; Intimate partner violence.

Fig. 1

Sample advertisement on Facebook to recruit individuals for the survey, Georgia USA (2020).

Fig 2

Shifts in perception of a hypothetical pregnancy prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and at present (Fall 2020), online survey of 350 individuals assigned female at birth in Georgia USA (2020).