Brief: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda

Abstract

This regional brief condenses findings from a five-country comparative study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda. Based on a large-scale survey and qualitative interviews with women, girls, healthcare providers, civil society representatives, and policymakers, the underlying research found that pandemic-related restrictions, including lockdowns and curfews, disrupted access to family planning, maternal health care, abortion services, and HIV prevention and management across the five countries. The brief highlights that care-seeking was frequently delayed, postponed, or abandoned altogether, contributing to increases in unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence, unsafe abortions, and maternal and neonatal deaths. It presents the regional-level findings and cross-country comparisons in a condensed format designed for policymakers and program planners, with recommendations for building more resilient SRH service delivery systems capable of withstanding future public health emergencies in the region.