Did COVID‐19 Impact Contraceptive Uptake? Evidence from Senegal

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the number of new contraceptive acceptors in Senegal overall and by method. Monthly service data from March 2019 to December 2020 were extracted for the number of new contraceptive users of IUDs, implants, injectables, and oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and interrupted time series analysis for trend analyses overall and by the contraceptive method. Following the announcement of the first COVID‐19 case in Senegal in March 2020, there was an immediate significant decrease in the number of new acceptors overall, and for new users of implants and injectables. From March–December 2020, the trend in monthly new family planning acceptors increased overall, mainly driven by significant increases in new IUD and implant acceptors. Compared to the period before the onset of COVID‐19, there was a statistically significant shift from shorter‐acting methods (OCPs, injectables) to long‐acting reversible methods (IUDs, implants). Despite the immediate adverse impact of COVID‐19‐related restrictions, the number of new acceptors rebounded, trends in the number of new monthly acceptors significantly increased, and there was a significant shift to longer‐acting methods.

Trends in fertility intentions and contraceptive practices in the context of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: insights from four national and regional population-based cohorts

“…First, while disruptions to SRH services were reported in the early stage of the pandemic,5 23–28 patterns of service disruptions varied significantly by level, duration, type of service and geography 24–26. Discontinuity of services was often short lived—several studies reporting rapid postlockdown rebounds in service provision 23 27–29…”

The impact of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health service access and provision in Botswana: a cross-sectional study

“…As this study only asked women about contraception use at a single timepoint during COVID-19 restrictions, no information was available on changes to contraceptive use and provision over the course of the pandemic. A study in Senegal found that, although contraceptive uptake initially fell signi cantly at the onset of COVID-19 restrictions, this later rebounded, with increased uptake of LARC methods (22), whilst research in Burkina Faso and Kenya found that whilst most women did not change their contraceptive method use in the early months of the pandemic, those who did, switched to a more effective method (23). Further research is required to investigate the longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on patterns of contraception uptake in Botswana.…”

IUD self-removal as self-care: Research is needed in low and middle-income countries

“…Preliminary evidence from selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries indicated that overall access to family planning services did not appear to be severely disrupted in the early months of the pandemic ( 5 , 6 ); however, certain populations, including nulliparous women and women living in rural areas, reported a significant increase in need for contraceptive services (defined as those who were sexually active and did not intend to get pregnant in the next 12 months) from the period before to during COVID-19 ( 5 ). Initial interruptions to family planning services were followed by subsequent increases in new users in Senegal through December 2020 ( 7 ). Future threats to contraceptive care might emerge as the pandemic persists and evolves.…”