Sexual & Reproductive Health Services: An Infographic Series

INTRODUCTION

This infographic is part of a series of four infographics focusing on the intersection of gender and Covid-19 and covering the following topics:

1. Sexual & Reproductive Health Services
2. The Gender Gap in Digital Health
3. GBV Response Services
4. Financial Protection Services

Covid-19, Essential Health Services and Gender Equity

With a focus on countries in the Global South, this infographic illustrates how COVID-19 was disrupting sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) and how critical information gaps and structural barriers contributed to a lack of access to SRHS. Some countries are adapting and diversifying how people access sexual and reproductive health services through alternative models of care to allow ongoing accessibility during the pandemic.

Impacts of COVID-19:

• Disruption of the provision of family planning and contraception services
• Critical information gaps and structural barriers contribute to a lack of access to SRHS
• Disruption of global supply chains, affecting sexual & reproductive health

UNFPA estimated in early 2020 that lockdowns (when lasting six months) could impact nearly 47 million women in 114 low- and middle-income countries, causing major disruptions to services and restricted access to modern contraceptives, in turn leading to as many as 7 million unintended pregnancies.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

1. Integrating SRHS into established essential services

   In countries like Zimbabwe and Nigeria, SRHS have been integrated with other essential services, such as immunisation, food delivery programmes or COVID-related activities, which has ensured continued access to family planning services.

2. Maintaining essential services by embracing innovative approaches

   The UK has made it possible for women to take abortion pills at home, and in France, the government took action to ensure continued delivery of the contraceptive pill to women, even if they were unable to renew their prescriptions.

3. Ensuring continued access of vulnerable groups to SRHS

   In Tunisia, the Tunisian Sexual and Reproductive Health Association (ATSR) and partners worked with government to make the access to care related to SRHS free and equitable for sub-Saharan migrants and refugees.

Access the infographic here.