Trends in Utilization of Contraceptive and Pregnancy-Related Services around COVID-19 Pandemic through Public Health Facilities: A Secondary Data Analysis.

Abstract

Essential health services that by no means suffered due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic of which family planning was one of them. World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a multi-country study (India, Nigeria, and Tanzania) in 2021 to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public health system to deliver family planning (FP) services and the trends in the uptake of contraceptive services in health facilities. As a part of major mixed-method study, secondary data from India's Health Management Information System (HMIS) was analyzed to assess the trends in contraceptive and pregnancy-related services during the pre-and post-COVID-19 phases. During the first wave, the suspension of elective surgery including sterilization camps, Migration, and fear of visiting health facilities were some of the reasons that indirectly affected the trends in utilization of family planning services causing unintended pregnancies and increased ANC registration. Health system should continue providing family planning and abortion services during the pandemic as essential health services. Promotion and advocacy of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives could help in future health emergencies that can prevent the beneficiary from frequent visits to a health facility.