PI: Rathani Nemuramba
Background and rationale
During humanitarian crises, routine data collection such as census data or large-scale data collection are often disrupted, posing serious challenges to monitoring and effective response during the emergency and recovery period. In addition, recent evidence in the region has shown that one of the critical impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been on the reduction of health-seeking behaviour. “A serious, unexpected consequence of the pandemic is a reduction in health-seeking behaviours among high-risk members who perceive seeing their doctor as increasing their risk of exposure to Covid-19,” said head of Discovery Health’s Centre for Clinical Excellence, Dr Noluthando Nematswerani. Similar impacts have been recorded in other contexts.
To date, we know little about the impact of COVID-19 on health-seeking behaviour and access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. In addition, these impacts are likely to fluctuate over time, and they are likely to depend on the rate of infection and public health messages around the risk of infection and prevention measures. For example, due to COVID-19, the 3-month supply of HIV treatment might not have been affected, but the preventive services, such as availability and distribution of condoms, might have been. Similarly, delivery services might not have been affected, but fewer women may have attended ANC and post-natal services.
Aim of the study
- The overall aim of this project is to establish routine data collection in HDSS sites in Africa to measure access to SRHR services, health-seeking behaviours, and experiences with health care delivery systems during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic
Objectives of the study
- To establish baseline data on key SRHR indicators, including (contraception and family planning, HIV testing, treatment and care, sexual behaviour e.g., condom use), including pregnancy rates in the last four years, and assess whether access has been impacted by Covid-19 lockdown measures.
- Measure access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (defined as Minimum Initial Service Package (SRH-MISP), including essential SRH services and health-seeking behaviour during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this objective, we will investigate two research hypotheses.
- To examine indirect health consequences of COVID-19, including unintended pregnancies and births, and adverse health events because of a lack of timely and good-quality care.
- To measure changes in access to HIV treatment and prevention services since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic.