Access to modern methods of contraception in Italy: Will the COVID-19 pandemic be aggravating the issue?

Bellizzi, Saverio; Pichierri, Giuseppe; Napodano, Catello M Panu; Picchi, Sara; Fiorletta, Serena; Panunzi, Maria Grazia; Rubattu, Edoardo; Nivoli, Alessandra; Lorettu, Liliana; Amadori, Antonella; Padrini, Susanna; Ronzoni, Anna Rita

doi:10.7189/jogh.10.020320

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Health systems all over the world have been overwhelmed by the COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic and have struggled to maintain routine services. Difficulties accessing family planning services in 2020 have been reported even in high-income countries [1] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on contraception use in 2020 and up until the end of April 2021 in France

et al. 2022

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Objectives : To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of reimbursed contraceptives in France after 15 months of the pandemic, according to age-group and updating previous data only pertaining to the first lockdown (two months). Study design : We conducted a national register-based study by extracting all reimbursements of oral contraceptives (OC), emergency contraception (EC), intra-uterine devices (IUD) and implants from the French National Health Insurance database (SNDS), which includes and covers 99.5% of the French population, in 2018, 2019, 2020 and from 01/01/2021 to 04/30/2021. We calculated the expected use of contraceptives in 2020 and 2021 in the absence of the pandemic, based on 2018 and 2019 usage and taking annual trends into account. We assessed the difference between observed and expected dispensing rates by contraceptive type and by age-group (≤18 years old, 1835). Results : Dispensing of all contraceptives decreased compared to expected dispensing numbers: -2.0% for OC, -5.3% for EC, -9.5% for LNG-IUS, -8.6% for C-IUD, and -16.4% for implant. This decrease in the dispensing of contraceptives was observed in all age-groups, but mainly concerned women under the age of 18 years (-22% for OC, -10% for EC, -37.2% for LNG-IUS, -36.4% for C-IUD, -26.4% for implant) and those aged 18-25 (-5.1% for OC, -11.9% for EC, -18.1% for LNG-IUS, -15.9% for C-IUD, -17.6% for implants). Conclusions : Our study showed that the dispensing of contraceptives in France was markedly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prescriptions for long-acting contraceptive use and women under the age of 25 years were the most substantially impacted. Ensuring access to contraceptive methods during health emergencies must be a public health policy priority.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on contraception use in 2020 and up until the end of April 2021 in France

et al. 2022

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“…However, uncertainty about the correct use of contraceptives was reported in this study. The need of mobile and free access to contraceptives during the lockdown was also encouraged in other published literature 12,13 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contraceptive Usage and Social Barriers During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Mustafa¹,

Munaver²,

Munaver³

2022

AJSMU

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Objective: To determine the frequency of contraceptive usage, the social barriers affecting their use, and the frequency of unplanned pregnancies during the COVID-19 pandemic Methodology: This is a prospective cross-sectional study carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College & PAF Hospitals from July 2020 to September 2020. All women of reproductive age attending the outpatient department were consecutively included. A pre-structured questionnaire was used for the purpose of collection of data. We obtained information regarding the use of contraception before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the contraception methods used by these women. Furthermore, reasons for discontinuing contraception amongst those women who were using it earlier. The occurrence of pregnancy during pandemic was also noted. Results: Of the 350 women, 306 (87.4%) women practiced contraception before and 288 (82.3%) practiced it during the lockdown. Of 306 women practicing contraception before the lockdown, 265 (86.6%) continued practicing during the lockdown as well. Condom 145 (50.3%) and withdrawal method 116 (40.3%) were the most used methods amongst the 288 women practicing contraception during the lockdown. The noticeable increase in the number of those using withdrawal method was due to the lack of consultation following the fear of getting COVID (17 women, 41.5%) and no access to the clinic (14 women, 34.1%). These were the most common reasons for not using contraception, amongst the 41 women practicing contraception before the pandemic. Pregnancies were reported by 93 (26.6%) women out of whom 75 (80.6%) reported these to have been unplanned. Conclusion: The COVID pandemic has largely affected the utilization of contraceptives among women who were already practicing different contraceptive methods. Moreover, unplanned pregnancies are increasingly reported by women.

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“…A mathematical model predicted a 10% decline in the use of short and long-acting contraceptive methods in low-and middle-income countries due to reduced access [21]. Despite a disruptive event such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to ensure that women can have control over their reproductive life and protect the access to contraceptives and family planning services [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Associated with Uptake of Effective and Ineffective Contraceptives among Polish Women during the First Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Izdebski

Wąż

Warzecha

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The COVID-19 pandemic has burdened the healthcare system and influenced individuals’ health-related choices. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and to identify the correlates of the use of more and less effective contraceptive methods among Poles in the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cross-sectional online study was conducted among the representative sample of 642 female respondents aged 18–49. Three groups of contraception choices (only effective methods—42.2%, mixed effective and ineffective methods—26.8%, none—31.0%) were distinguished and 11 potential determinants were considered. One in ten women declared having difficulty in accessing contraception during the first months of the pandemic. A multinomial logistic regression model explained 48.7% of the variation in contraceptive method choice. Both effective and ineffective methods were more often declared by young women, and less often in case of lower education, planning children or subjective no need for contraception. In addition, factors that reduced the chance of effective contraception were poor financial situation, already having children and a relatively higher degree of religiosity. The study confirmed that a significant share of Polish women do not opt for effective methods of contraception. Their choices had strong demographic, social and cultural determinants.

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Access to modern methods of contraception in Italy: Will the COVID-19 pandemic be aggravating the issue?

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

Impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on contraception use in 2020 and up until the end of April 2021 in France

Impact of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on contraception use in 2020 and up until the end of April 2021 in France

Contraceptive Usage and Social Barriers During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Factors Associated with Uptake of Effective and Ineffective Contraceptives among Polish Women during the First Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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