Health systems analysis and evaluation of the barriers to availability, utilisation and readiness of sexual and reproductive health services in COVID-19-affected areas: a WHO mixed-methods study protocol
,
José Guilherme Cecatti,
Kun Tang,
Igor Toskin,
Moazzam Ali,
Caron Kim,
Stefano Uccella,
Simone Garzon,
Ge Yang,
Vanessa Brizuela,
Pisake Lumbiganon,
Seni Kouanda,
Alexandra Sawyer,
Nigel Sherriff,
Alessia Savoldi,
Anna Thorson,
Marleen Temmerman,
Jörg Huber,
Soe Soe Thwin,
Maddalena Cordioli,
Massimo Mirandola,
Jaime Vera,
Armando Seuc,
Laila Ladak,
Debbie Williams,
Luis Bahamondes,
Deda Ogum Alangea,
Abdu Mohiddin,
Eunice Nahyuha Chomi,
Sothornwit Jen,
Modey Emefa,
Hamsadvani Kuganantham,
Armando Humberto Seuc,
Eunice Chomi,
Hanxiyue Zhang,
Yifan Zhu,
Yueping Guo,
Chunxiao Peng,
Kwasi Tropsey,
Emefa Judith Modey,
Rozina Karmaliani,
Jen Sothornwit,
Ferdinand Okwaro,
Ranieri Poli,
Joy Jerop Chebet,
Hugo Gamerro Abrego
Affiliations
José Guilherme Cecatti
Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kun Tang
Department of Neurology, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Igor Toskin
18 Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Moazzam Ali
10 Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Caron Kim
Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Stefano Uccella
1 Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics, and Gynecology, AUOI Verona, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
Simone Garzon
1 Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics, and Gynecology, AUOI Verona, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
Ge Yang
Division of Neonatology and Center for Newborn Care, Guangzhou Women and Children`s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People`s Republic of China
Vanessa Brizuela
UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
Pisake Lumbiganon
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Khon Kaen University, Nai Mueang, Thailand
Seni Kouanda
Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la santé, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Alexandra Sawyer
Nigel Sherriff
2 School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
Alessia Savoldi
2 Infectious Disease Section, Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
Anna Thorson
1 UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
Marleen Temmerman
Jörg Huber
5 School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
Soe Soe Thwin
20 Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Maddalena Cordioli
1 WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexual Health and Vulnerable Populations - Epidemiology Unit - Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
Massimo Mirandola
1 WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexual Health and Vulnerable Populations - Epidemiology Unit - Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Verona University Hospital, Verona, Italy
Jaime Vera
Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
Armando Seuc
2 Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Laila Ladak
1 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Debbie Williams
Luis Bahamondes
Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Deda Ogum Alangea
Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Abdu Mohiddin
Eunice Nahyuha Chomi
Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Sothornwit Jen
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Modey Emefa
Dept. of Population, Family & Reproductive Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Hamsadvani Kuganantham
Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, WHO, Geneve, Switzerland
Armando Humberto Seuc
National Institute of Hygiene Epidemiology and Microbiology, Habana, La Habana, Cuba
Eunice Chomi
Hanxiyue Zhang
Yifan Zhu
Yueping Guo
Chunxiao Peng
Kwasi Tropsey
Emefa Judith Modey
Rozina Karmaliani
Aga Khan University School of Nursing & Midwifery, Karachi, Pakistan
Jen Sothornwit
Ferdinand Okwaro
Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, The Aga Khan University—Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
Introduction COVID-19 has led to an unprecedented increase in demand on health systems to care for people infected, necessitating the allocation of significant resources, especially medical resources, towards the response. This, compounded by the restrictions on movement instituted may have led to disruptions in the provision of essential services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. This study aims to assess the availability of contraception, comprehensive abortion care, sexually transmitted infection prevention and treatment and sexual and gender-based violence care and support services in local health facilities during COVID-19 pandemic. This is a standardised generic protocol designed for use across different global settings.Methods and analysis This study adopts both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess health facilities’ SRH service availability and readiness, and clients’ and providers’ perceptions of the availability and readiness of these services in COVID-19-affected areas. The study has two levels: (1) perceptions of clients (and the partners) and healthcare providers, using qualitative methods, and (2) assessment of infrastructure availability and readiness to provide SRH services through reviews, facility service statistics for clients and a qualitative survey for healthcare provider perspectives. The health system assessment will use a cross-sectional panel survey design with two data collection points to capture changes in SRH services availability as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. Data will be collected using focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and a health facility assessment survey.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the WHO Scientific and Ethics Review Committee (protocol ID CERC.0103). Each study site is required to obtain the necessary ethical and regulatory approvals that are required in each specific country.
