Abstract
BackgroundPolicymakers and health professionals prefer to use summarized evidence of practice recommendations. The aim of this scoping review is therefore to identify available guidelines, consensus statements, the standard of practice, and practice recommendations on reproductive health service provision during the COVID-19 pandemics.MethodsWe searched guideline databases and websites of professional associations and international organizations working on sexual and reproductive health. We looked for practice recommendations on sexual reproductive health services (SRH) during COVID-19 pandemics. Additionally, we searched: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Data extraction was done by two independent reviewers using a customized tool that was developed to record the key information of the source that’s relevant to the review question. The difference between the two authors on data extraction was resolved by discussion.ResultsA total of 21 records were included in the review. Identified recommendations were classified into thematic areas. The records addressed approaches to antenatal care, labour and delivery, postnatal care, safe abortion, contraception, gender-based violence, and artificial reproduction.ConclusionsThere were consistent consensus statements and recommendations that there should be access to sexual and reproductive health services like antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), contraception service, safe abortion care, and clinical management of rape survivors during the COVID-19 pandemics with the concerted effort of service re-organization. The practice recommendations focus on innovative ways of service provision to minimize patient and staff exposure to COVID-19 as well as alleviate the burden on the health care system. These include utilizing telemedicine and community/home-based care or self-care.
Highlights
Policymakers and health professionals prefer to use summarized evidence of practice recommendations
The World Health Organization (WHO) considered reproductive health services, including care during pregnancy and child breath as an essential health service to continue during the COVID-19 pandemics [4]
Several international associations and organizations have declared service related to reproductive health, including contraception and safe abortion care as essential health service to continue during the COVID-19 pandemics [WHO, ACOG, Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (RCOG), Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO), Royal College of Midwives (RCM), Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada (SOGC), RANZCOG, Society of Family Planning (SFP), National Abortion Federation (NAF), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Marie Stopes International (MSI), British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP), and Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH)]
Summary
Policymakers and health professionals prefer to use summarized evidence of practice recommendations The aim of this scoping review is to identify available guidelines, consensus statements, the standard of practice, and practice recommendations on reproductive health service provision during the COVID-19 pandemics. The WHO considered reproductive health services, including care during pregnancy and child breath as an essential health service to continue during the COVID-19 pandemics [4]. The tremendous burden caused by the COVID-19 outbreak is exceeding the capacity of many national and local health systems which is jeopardizing routine service delivery and undermining other health priorities. There might be reduced healthcare-seeking behavior among patients because of fear and anxiety of contracting COVID-19 [6, 7] As such the evolving COVID-19 pandemic may affect routine services including sexual, reproductive, and maternal health services delivery. Experience in past epidemics has shown that lack of access to essential health services and shut down of services unrelated to the epidemic response resulted in more deaths than the epidemic itself [9]
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