Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria

Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi; Akaninyene Eseme Ubom; Emeka Philip Igbodike; Ernest Okechuwu Orji

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18

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Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria

Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi, Akaninyene Eseme Ubom, Emeka Philip Igbodike, Ernest Okechuwu Orji

Published in Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 9, Issue 6)

Received: 19 November 2021 Accepted: 6 December 2021 Published: 24 December 2021

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, globally. This study sought to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to contraception amongst reproductive age women in Nigeria, and make recommendations that will improve access. A cross-sectional survey of sexually active, reproductive age women on modern methods of contraception was conducted in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire designed using the free software Google Forms^® was utilised for the study. The questionnaire was electronically administered. The data obtained was analysed using SPSS version 24. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. One-fourth (73, 24.7%) of the respondents reported difficult access to contraception, citing fear of COVID-19 exposure at the health facility (21, 28.8%) as the most common reason for this difficulty. Forced abstinence from sexual intercourse (28, 38.4%) and unintended pregnancy (21, 28.8%) were the most common consequences of impeded contraceptive access. Women using short-acting methods were significantly more likely than those on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) to report difficult access to contraception (35.1% vs. 14.6%, P=0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to contraception in Nigeria, affecting more women on short acting methods than those on LARC, with the potential of increasing unintended pregnancy and abortion rates.

Published in	Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 9, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18
Page(s)	231-236
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Access, Contraception, COVID-19, Family Planning, Nigeria, Women’s Health

References

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[6]	Riley T, Sully E, Ahmed Z, Biddlecom A. Estimates of the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health in low-and middle-income countries. Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2020; 46: 73-6.
[7]	Yuksel B, Ozgor F. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on female sexual behaviour. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2020; 150 (1): 98-102.
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[9]	Cousins S. COVID-19 has “devastating” effect on women and girls. The Lancet 2020; 396 (10247): 301-2.
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[16]	Baschieri A, Cleland J, Floyd S, Dube A, Msona, A, Molesworth A, et al. Reproductive preferences and contraceptive use: A comparison of monogamous and polygamous couples in northern Malawi. J Biosoc Sci. 2013; 45 (2): 145.
[17]	Monjok E, Smesny A, Ekabua JE, Essien EJ. Contraceptive practices in Nigeria: Literature review and recommendation for future policy decisions. Open Access J Contracept. 2010; 1: 9-22.
[18]	National Population Commission (NPC) [Nigeria] and ICF International. Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013. Abuja, Nigeria, and Rockville, Maryland, USA: NPC and ICF International 2014.
[19]	Otoide VO, Oronsaye F, Okonofua FE. Why Nigerian adolescents seek abortion rather than contraception: Evidence from focus-group discussions. Int Fam Plan Perspect. 2001; 27 (2): 77–81.
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APA Style

Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi, Akaninyene Eseme Ubom, Emeka Philip Igbodike, Ernest Okechuwu Orji. (2021). Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria. Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 9(6), 231-236. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18

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ACS Style

Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi; Akaninyene Eseme Ubom; Emeka Philip Igbodike; Ernest Okechuwu Orji. Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria. J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2021, 9(6), 231-236. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18

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AMA Style

Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi, Akaninyene Eseme Ubom, Emeka Philip Igbodike, Ernest Okechuwu Orji. Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria. J Gynecol Obstet. 2021;9(6):231-236. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18

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@article{10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18,
  author = {Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi and Akaninyene Eseme Ubom and Emeka Philip Igbodike and Ernest Okechuwu Orji},
  title = {Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria},
  journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
  volume = {9},
  number = {6},
  pages = {231-236},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20210906.18},
  abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, globally. This study sought to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to contraception amongst reproductive age women in Nigeria, and make recommendations that will improve access. A cross-sectional survey of sexually active, reproductive age women on modern methods of contraception was conducted in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire designed using the free software Google Forms® was utilised for the study. The questionnaire was electronically administered. The data obtained was analysed using SPSS version 24. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. One-fourth (73, 24.7%) of the respondents reported difficult access to contraception, citing fear of COVID-19 exposure at the health facility (21, 28.8%) as the most common reason for this difficulty. Forced abstinence from sexual intercourse (28, 38.4%) and unintended pregnancy (21, 28.8%) were the most common consequences of impeded contraceptive access. Women using short-acting methods were significantly more likely than those on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) to report difficult access to contraception (35.1% vs. 14.6%, P=0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to contraception in Nigeria, affecting more women on short acting methods than those on LARC, with the potential of increasing unintended pregnancy and abortion rates.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria
AU - Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi
AU - Akaninyene Eseme Ubom
AU - Emeka Philip Igbodike
AU - Ernest Okechuwu Orji
Y1 - 2021/12/24
PY - 2021
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18
DO - 10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18
T2 - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
JF - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
JO - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
SP - 231
EP - 236
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2376-7820
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, globally. This study sought to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to contraception amongst reproductive age women in Nigeria, and make recommendations that will improve access. A cross-sectional survey of sexually active, reproductive age women on modern methods of contraception was conducted in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire designed using the free software Google Forms® was utilised for the study. The questionnaire was electronically administered. The data obtained was analysed using SPSS version 24. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. One-fourth (73, 24.7%) of the respondents reported difficult access to contraception, citing fear of COVID-19 exposure at the health facility (21, 28.8%) as the most common reason for this difficulty. Forced abstinence from sexual intercourse (28, 38.4%) and unintended pregnancy (21, 28.8%) were the most common consequences of impeded contraceptive access. Women using short-acting methods were significantly more likely than those on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) to report difficult access to contraception (35.1% vs. 14.6%, P=0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to contraception in Nigeria, affecting more women on short acting methods than those on LARC, with the potential of increasing unintended pregnancy and abortion rates.
VL - 9
IS - 6
ER -

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Author Information

Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi

Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Perinatology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Akaninyene Eseme Ubom

Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Perinatology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Emeka Philip Igbodike

Georges Memorial Medical Centre, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, Nigeria
Ernest Okechuwu Orji

Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Perinatology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

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APA Style

Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi, Akaninyene Eseme Ubom, Emeka Philip Igbodike, Ernest Okechuwu Orji. (2021). Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria. Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 9(6), 231-236. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18

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ACS Style

Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi; Akaninyene Eseme Ubom; Emeka Philip Igbodike; Ernest Okechuwu Orji. Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria. J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2021, 9(6), 231-236. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18

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AMA Style

Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi, Akaninyene Eseme Ubom, Emeka Philip Igbodike, Ernest Okechuwu Orji. Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria. J Gynecol Obstet. 2021;9(6):231-236. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18

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@article{10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18,
  author = {Omotade Adebimpe Ijarotimi and Akaninyene Eseme Ubom and Emeka Philip Igbodike and Ernest Okechuwu Orji},
  title = {Women and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Consequences of Disrupted Access to Contraception in Nigeria},
  journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
  volume = {9},
  number = {6},
  pages = {231-236},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20210906.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20210906.18},
  abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, globally. This study sought to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to contraception amongst reproductive age women in Nigeria, and make recommendations that will improve access. A cross-sectional survey of sexually active, reproductive age women on modern methods of contraception was conducted in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire designed using the free software Google Forms® was utilised for the study. The questionnaire was electronically administered. The data obtained was analysed using SPSS version 24. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. One-fourth (73, 24.7%) of the respondents reported difficult access to contraception, citing fear of COVID-19 exposure at the health facility (21, 28.8%) as the most common reason for this difficulty. Forced abstinence from sexual intercourse (28, 38.4%) and unintended pregnancy (21, 28.8%) were the most common consequences of impeded contraceptive access. Women using short-acting methods were significantly more likely than those on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) to report difficult access to contraception (35.1% vs. 14.6%, P=0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to contraception in Nigeria, affecting more women on short acting methods than those on LARC, with the potential of increasing unintended pregnancy and abortion rates.},
 year = {2021}
}

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