Effects of Covid19 on Utilization of Family Planning Services in Teso North Sub County Hospital Busia County


Authors : Benson Wafula Khisa ; Athuman Ndalila ; John Wechabe

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 5 - May


Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/2kr434n8

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25may1381

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.


Abstract : The Kenyan government put in place policies to increase uptake of family planning services with an aim of reducing the fertility rate (TFR). It was aimed at improving the gross domestic product, reduce poverty and at the same time reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Despite this, TFR in Kenya has remained high at 3.9 with some counties recording a TFR of more than 3.9. Teso north Sub County hospital despite having a Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of 39% still have a TFR of 4.7%. Since their receptions of COVID-19 pandemic, measures put by the government to curtail the viral spread, have been drastic enough to an extent that they may have influenced contraceptive uptake. This study therefore sought to find out how COVID-19 affected the uptake of family planning in Teso north Sub county hospital. The main objective of the study was to determine the effects of COVID 19 on uptake of family planning services in Teso north sub county hospital. Specific objectives were to determine Family Planning attendance during acute COVID19 and assess the utilization of family planning commodities (by method) before and during the acute COVID19 period in Teso north Sub County hospital. It was retrospective study design carried out from September 2019 to February 2020 and compared with data from March 2020 to October 2021.Measures of central tendency and dispersion were used and data analyzed using SPSS with a P value <0.05 taken to be statistical significant. The study found out that there was a drop in the number of clients seeking family planning services both women and male during covid 19. The pandemic affected utilization of family planning commodities in Teso Sub county hospital. Recommendations to service providers and policy makers were that all service providers should make active use of cellular phones and other electronic technologies for creating awareness and use of family planning services and there should be round-the-clock family planning counseling available at all service outlets in order to avoid unplanned pregnancies. National/County Government should provide patient-focused telehealth counseling for a range of contraceptive methods in a way that is respectful of individual patient needs and preferences, implement support supervision systems for monitoring service delivery, especially involving senior staff in reviewing commodity stocks and encouraging provider health through in-person or web-based engagement, campaign for policy change allowing dispensing larger packs of short-acting contraceptives to reduce facility visitation frequency and develop and disseminate clear, concise messages across various media outlets such as television scrolls, talk shows, radio, social media, and public service announcements to generate awareness and educate the public. Lastly there is need to strengthen emergency preparedness and response, utilize community structures for contraceptive delivery.

Keywords : Family Planning, COVID-19, Contraceptives Supply, use During COVID19, Effects of COVID19 And Morbidity and Maternal Mortality and COVID19.

References :

  1. Adelekan, T., Mihretu, B., Mapanga, W., Nqeketo, S., Chauke, L., Dwane, Z., & Baldwin-Ragaven, L. (2020). Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on family planning utilization and termination of pregnancy services in Gauteng, South Africa: March–April2020. Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2 (2),145-152.
  2. Adelekan, T., Mihretu, B., Mapanga, W., Nqeketo, S., Chauke, L., Dwane, Z., &Baldwin-Ragaven, L. (2020). Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on family planning
  3. Asif, M.F., &Pervaiz, Z. (2019). Socio-demographic determinant of unmet need for family planning among married women in Pakistan. BMC public health,19(1),1-8.
  4. Asratie, M.H. (2021). Unintended Pregnancy During COVID-19 Pandemic Among Women Attending Antenatal Care in North west Ethiopia: Magnitude and Associated Factors. International Journal of Women's Health,13,461.
  5. Barasa, E., Kazungu, J., Orangi, S., Kabia, E., Ogero, M., & Kasera, K.(2021a). Assessing the Indirect Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kenya. CGD Work. Pap, 570.
  6. Biswas, J.K., Poddar, S.D., Saravagi, G., & Nilakantan, A. (2021). Access to Essential Contraception, Family Planning, and Safe Motherhood Services During COVID-19 Pandemic: Single Secondary Level Care Hospital Experience. Gynecology Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine.
  7. Candeias, P., Alarcão, V., Stefanovska-Petkovska, M., Santos, O., Virgolino, A., Pintassilgo, S. Machado, F.L. (2021). Reducing sexual and reproductive health in equities between natives and migrants: Delphi consensus for sustainable cross-cultural health care pathways. Frontiers in public health, 9,539.
  8. Connelly, L.M. (2014). Use of theoretical frameworks in research. MedsurgNursing,23(3),187.
  9. Dasgupta, A., Kantorová, V., & Ueffing, P. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on meeting needs for family planning: a global scenario by contraceptive methods used. Gates Open Research,4.
  10. Durham, K. (2006). Research design. Research in practice: Applied methods for the social sciences,2,33-59.
  11. Feyisa, G.T., Tolu, L.B., &Ezeh, A. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health and mitigation measures: the case of Ethiopia. African journal of reproductive health,24(2),24-26.
  12. Khowaja, B.M., &Shalwani, Q. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on family planning. European Journal of Midwifery, 5.
  13. Kimani, R.W., Maina, R., Shumba, C., &Shaibu, S. (2020). Maternal and new born care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: re-contextualizing the community midwifery model. Human Resources for Health, 18 (1),1-5.
  14. Liambila, W., Dwyer, S.C., Warren, C.E., Jain, A., Lutomia, M., Loech, J., &Washika, E. (2020). Implementation process brief: Integrated family planning and HIV services at the community level in Kenya.
  15. Lone, S.A., &Ahmad, A. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic–an African perspective. Emerging microbes & infections, 9(1),1300-1308.
  16. Lowhorn, G.L. (2007). Qualitative and quantitative research: How to choose the best design. Paper presented at the Academic Business World International Conference. Nashville, Tennessee.
  17. McFarlane, R.A., Barry, J., Cissé, G., Gislason, M., Gruca, M., Higgs, K.... Sahu, S. (2020). SDG3: Good Health and Well-Being-Framing Targets to Maximize Co-Benefits for Forestlands and People. In Sustainable Development Goals: Their Impacts on Forestlands People: Cambridge University Press.
  18. Mickler, A.K., Carrasco, M.A., Raney, L., Sharma, V., May, A.V., &Greaney, J. (2021). Applications of the high impact practices in family planning duringCOVID-19. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters,29(1),1881210.
  19. Organization, W.H. (2021). Responding to non-communicable diseases during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter- Agency Task Force on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
  20. Pfitzer, A., Lathrop, E., Bodenheimer, A., RamaRao S., Christofield, M., MacDonald, P.... Mikulich, M. (2020). Opportunities and challenges of delivering post abortion care and postpartum family planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Global Health: Science and Practice, 8 (3),335-343.
  21. Utilization and termination of pregnancy services in Gauteng, South Africa: March–April2020.WitsJournalofClinicalMedicine,2(2),145-152.
  22. Vora, K.S., Saiyed, S., & Natesan, S. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on family planning services in India. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 28 (1),1785378.

The Kenyan government put in place policies to increase uptake of family planning services with an aim of reducing the fertility rate (TFR). It was aimed at improving the gross domestic product, reduce poverty and at the same time reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Despite this, TFR in Kenya has remained high at 3.9 with some counties recording a TFR of more than 3.9. Teso north Sub County hospital despite having a Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of 39% still have a TFR of 4.7%. Since their receptions of COVID-19 pandemic, measures put by the government to curtail the viral spread, have been drastic enough to an extent that they may have influenced contraceptive uptake. This study therefore sought to find out how COVID-19 affected the uptake of family planning in Teso north Sub county hospital. The main objective of the study was to determine the effects of COVID 19 on uptake of family planning services in Teso north sub county hospital. Specific objectives were to determine Family Planning attendance during acute COVID19 and assess the utilization of family planning commodities (by method) before and during the acute COVID19 period in Teso north Sub County hospital. It was retrospective study design carried out from September 2019 to February 2020 and compared with data from March 2020 to October 2021.Measures of central tendency and dispersion were used and data analyzed using SPSS with a P value <0.05 taken to be statistical significant. The study found out that there was a drop in the number of clients seeking family planning services both women and male during covid 19. The pandemic affected utilization of family planning commodities in Teso Sub county hospital. Recommendations to service providers and policy makers were that all service providers should make active use of cellular phones and other electronic technologies for creating awareness and use of family planning services and there should be round-the-clock family planning counseling available at all service outlets in order to avoid unplanned pregnancies. National/County Government should provide patient-focused telehealth counseling for a range of contraceptive methods in a way that is respectful of individual patient needs and preferences, implement support supervision systems for monitoring service delivery, especially involving senior staff in reviewing commodity stocks and encouraging provider health through in-person or web-based engagement, campaign for policy change allowing dispensing larger packs of short-acting contraceptives to reduce facility visitation frequency and develop and disseminate clear, concise messages across various media outlets such as television scrolls, talk shows, radio, social media, and public service announcements to generate awareness and educate the public. Lastly there is need to strengthen emergency preparedness and response, utilize community structures for contraceptive delivery.

Keywords : Family Planning, COVID-19, Contraceptives Supply, use During COVID19, Effects of COVID19 And Morbidity and Maternal Mortality and COVID19.

Never miss an update from Papermashup

Get notified about the latest tutorials and downloads.

Subscribe by Email

Get alerts directly into your inbox after each post and stay updated.
Subscribe
OR

Subscribe by RSS

Add our RSS to your feedreader to get regular updates from us.
Subscribe