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. 2022 Oct;7(10):e009594.
doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009594.

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

Hannah VanBenschoten  1 , Hamsadvani Kuganantham  2 , Elin C Larsson  3   4 , Margit Endler  5   6 , Anna Thorson  7   8 , Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson  3   4 , Claudia Hanson  8   9 , Bela Ganatra  7 , Moazzam Ali  7 , Amanda Cleeve  10   6
Affiliations

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

Hannah VanBenschoten et al. BMJ Glob Health. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted health systems globally and widened preexisting disparities. We conducted a scoping review on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls' access to and utilisation of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for contraception, abortion, gender-based and intimate partner violence (GBV/IPV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Methods: We systematically searched peer reviewed literature and quantitative reports, published between December 2019 and July 2021, focused on women and girls' (15-49 years old) access to and utilisation of selected SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Included studies were grouped based on setting, SRH service area, study design, population and reported impact. Qualitative data were coded, organised thematically and grouped by major findings.

Results: We included 83 of 3067 identified studies and found that access to contraception, in-person safe abortion services, in-person services for GBV/IPV and STI/HIV testing, prevention and treatment decreased. The geographical distribution of this body of research was uneven and significantly less representative of countries where COVID-19 restrictions were very strict. Access was limited by demand and supply side barriers including transportation disruptions, financial hardships, limited resources and legal restrictions. Few studies focused on marginalised groups with distinct SRH needs.

Conclusion: Reports indicated negative impacts on access to and utilisation of SRH services globally, especially for marginalised populations during the pandemic. Our findings call for strengthening of health systems preparedness and resilience to safeguard global access to essential SRH services in ongoing and future emergencies.

Keywords: COVID-19; HIV; Health systems; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow chart of included studies. PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of studies by region, SRH service area and study design (n=83). SRH, sexual and reproductive health.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relative impact of COVID-19 on access and utilisation of SRH services (n=83). SRH, sexual and reproductive health.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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