Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini Review

Abstract

This mini review explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. We conducted a rapid review of the literature across three databases, with a particular focus on the African continent. Few studies have specifically focused on adolescents in Africa and this paper contributes to this paucity of research. Findings revealed the unintended consequences of the pandemic. Studies across several countries showed that the respective lockdown measures restricted adolescents' access to sexual and reproductive health services. The literature also showed increases in adolescent pregnancies during the lockdown, along with increases in reports of sexual violence against adolescents. We conclude this paper by offering recommendations to address these unintended consequences and potentially improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health in African communities.

Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic on Women’s Mental Health: A Critical Review of Literature

“…Such threats are sources of emotional torture for some of the women [12]. Another corroborating research finding confirms that women/girls in Nigeria were emotional tortured in the face of national lockdown, and the report clearly indicated that women/girls who were abused could not seek for help/support from others [31]. Certainly, it was in this context that some researchers have described the home as no longer a safe place to be [12].…”

“…Literally, all the reviewed articles engaged the discourse of confinement to the home environment to describe women's increased experience of gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic [12,14,27,[29][30][31][32]. In unison, all the seven articles (including other related reports) claimed that the safety protocol of lockdown imposed by government compelled men and women to spend longer period of time together at home, which heightened the incidences of gender-based violence.…”

“…Unanimously, all the reviewed articles affirmed that the COVID-19 safety protocol of restricted movement/lockdown worsen women's experience of GBV [12,14,[27][28][29][30][31][32]. The argument is that COVID-19 pandemic and its associated safety protocol forced men and women to stay at home for longer period of time.…”

“…Hence, there is strong affirmation that sexual violence was on the increase across African nations during the lockdown restrictions and not only for women but also for girls and children [30]. In this regard, they reported that in Uganda, sexual violence was the "third most reported form of abuse contributing 20.1% of all the cases" [31]. Equally, their report indicated that Kenya had witnessed a significant increase of more than 80% in teenage pregnancies in 2020 compared to 2019 (Kenya Situation Report.…”

“…Equally, their report indicated that Kenya had witnessed a significant increase of more than 80% in teenage pregnancies in 2020 compared to 2019 (Kenya Situation Report. Nairobi: UNOCHA Kenya, 2020 cited in [31]). Similarly, in Malawi, in 2020, an approximately 35% rise was noted in the number of teenage pregnancies among adolescent girls (Davies, 2020 cited in [31]).…”