Health systems analysis of barriers and readiness of SRH health services in COVID-19 affected areas

Overview

Countries response to the COVID-19 pandemic involved quickly mobilizing resources for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients and instituting public health measures to contain the spread of infection. This potentially resulted in disruption in the delivery of SRHrelated services. The global research question that this proposal seeks to answer is what are the impacts of COVID-19 on the health system’s capacity to provide sexual and reproductive health services. It contributes specifically to attainment of SDG targets SDG 3.d.1 and 5.6, and to the GPW 13 goal of 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies.

The specific objectives are:

• To explore the status of availability and the health facility readiness to provide services during, and in the post-pandemic period in contraception and abortion care, and provision of post abortion contraceptive care, STI prevention and treatment and support of women experiencing GBV in country regions/localities most affected by COVID-19.
• To assess the availability and quality of services and barriers to the utilization of these services from clients’ and providers’ perspectives in the selected COVID-19 affected areas.
• To enhance the reproductive service capacity in COVID-19 through advocacy, policy briefs, media dissemination and academic papers towards the national and regional stakeholders including policy-makers, academia, healthcare providers and the community.