Women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenge for women’s sexual and reproductive health care. The objective of this research was to analyse access to sexual and reproductive health services during confinement in Spain. (2) Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted w...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: León Larios, Fátima, Silva Reus, Isabel, Lahoz Pascual, Isabel, Quílez Conde, José Cruz, Puente Martínez, María José, Gutiérrez Ales, José, Correa Rancel, Marta
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/144329
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/144329
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11144074
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:contraception
COVID-19
LARC
emergency contraception
reproductive health
sexual health
Descripción
Sumario:Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a challenge for women’s sexual and reproductive health care. The objective of this research was to analyse access to sexual and reproductive health services during confinement in Spain. (2) Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample that was stratified by age in July and August 2020. (3) Results: A total of 1800 women were invited to participate, obtaining a response rate of 98.72%. The frequency of sexual relationships reduced during confinement. Counselling was offered both in person (30.7%) and telematically (39%), although there were also women who experienced access problems (30%). Of those women who required some LARC, only half had access to it, mainly due to the contact difficulties as a result of the limited number of consultations with their prescribing physicians. The use of emergency oral contraception and the use of services for the voluntary interruption of pregnancy were considerably reduced. The women who stated having been victims of gender-based violence were those that lived with their aggressors during confinement and had children. (4) Conclusions: It is necessary to ensure sexual and reproductive rights in confinement times and, for such a purpose, telemedicine can be a good tool that helps to avoid unmet contraceptive needs and unplanned pregnancies.