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

Abstract

Since the first case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in China in late 2019, the ensuing global pandemic has challenged human health and development and hampered the attainment of global, regional, and national health priorities and development goals. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where health systems remain fragile, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented disruptions to healthcare delivery and utilization. The policies and actions of certain governments to control the pandemic further exacerbated existing inequalities, especially for the most vulnerable groups (e.g., young women, adolescents, and sexual and gender minorities). So far, limited data are available to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.