Patient's Perception of Access to Reproductive Health and Family Planning During the COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantine Period [ID: 1372575

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to assess patient perception of access to reproductive health and family planning care during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine period, at which time routine annual visits were deferred. METHODS: Patients aged 18–44 seen at Temple University Hospital for an annual gynecology visit from March 2018 to December 2020 were identified. Pregnant patients, those with a history of permanent sterilization (bilateral tubal ligation, hysterectomy), women who were not heterosexually active, prisoners, non-English or non-Spanish speakers, and those with intellectual disability were excluded. Using a random number generator, 99 eligible patients were randomly selected from this population. Eligible patients were contacted via telephone and verbally consented. If agreeable, these patients were administered a 20-question survey. RESULTS: Of 99 patients selected, 27 (27.3%) responded to the telephone survey. 0% of responders felt that they faced barriers to contraceptive care during the quarantine period. Survey responders and nonresponders had no significant differences in age (P=.26), race (P=.50), insurance type (P=.15), gravida (P=.78), parity (P=.10), and number of induced abortions (P=.51). However, nonresponders were significantly more likely to have no-showed a gynecology appointment in 2020 (P<.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that patients at Temple University Hospital did not perceive barriers to accessing contraceptive care during the COVID-19 quarantine period. Additionally, the majority of patients felt that contraceptive care was an important reason to have an in-person visit.