Written by Sneha Sharma, a higher research and Associate program (ICRW ASIA). Sharmistha Nanda, Technical Specialist (ICRW ASIA); Kuhika Seth, ICRW ASIA Technician; Aishwarya Sahay, Research Partner (ICRW ASIA) and Pranita Achyut, Manager-Research and Programs (ICRW ASIA)[1]
Our lives have changed radically since the start of the pandemic early this year. COVID-19 has influenced all spheres of food safety, health, education and has also has deeper social and economic inequalitiesEspecially for those who have already been marginalized. Health systems around the world have suffered from pandemic pressures and increased loads of patients. To contain the virus, several countries, including India, implemented locks across the country, which were later elevated in phases. Emergency characters for the health system to respond to COVID-19 infections in conjunction with lock measures has resulted in significant disorders in delivery and access to basic health services for women and girls. Frontline health workers were hired to help reply to COVID-19 The placement of women and girls in a precarious position as it cuts access to the main source of information and services on sexual and reproductive health. Despite this disorder, the need for family planning increased as many immigrants who had moved to the big cities in search of sustainable employment opportunities, returned home after losing their jobs and income due to locking measures. For women, access to family planning is critical and part of basic health care. Without these services, women and girls are at risk of losing the ability to decide when they want to become pregnant. It is expected that this could leads to 7 million involuntary pregnancies in low and medium -income countries.
In addition, taking into account the many men returning home and the ongoing financial crisis, we can expect a displacement of household dynamics. First evidence suggests that stress from pandemic and wavy results could lead to a Increase of gender -based violenceWomen abandon the workforce to manage the Increased weight of unpaid work and the possibility of a Increase in abandoned schools and a possible increase in early marriages. The rules on fertility, childbirth and use of contraception will be further established, weakening the reproductive service of women. The International Center for Women (ICRW) conducted a study on the disassociation of how the pandemic affects the daily lives of couples, their dynamics and the needs of family planning.
Findings[2] From the quality research of ICRW, where we interacted with various community stakeholders (40 interviews), we suggest that sex frequency has increased, but this was not a linear increase. During the initial period of the pandemic and lock, the fear of the virus was high and there was a perception that the virus could spread during the sex, which led to abstinence between couples. But gradually, as there was more information and several myths were cleared, sexual activities repeated. The men we had interviewed, especially the immigrants and those who got married, talked about how they had a hard time abstaining from sexual activity while at home with their wives. Locking measures have led to an increase in time spent at home, which could be recognized as a reason for increasing sexual activity. Indeed, many men were at home due to lack of employment opportunities – whether they are unemployed or involved in irregular work. With the ongoing financial crisis, men find ways to distract themselves and/or exercise control to offset because they cannot play the role of provider. A male respondent said: “… Sex is a way to distract ourselves from stress, we cannot continue to think about the crisis 24/7.” According to the interview answers, sexual activity is increasing due to COVID-19 measures and locking, leading to a possible increase in contraceptive demand.
In our research venues, Begusarai (Bihar) and Kanpur Dehat (UTTAR Pradesh), health workers are the main source of information on women in family planning and other reproductive health services. The role of health workers is also expanding as supporters of women to examine modern contraceptives. A study worker from our study observed: “It is her responsibility to ensure that women understand and use precaution because they do not speak, but eventually suffer as they are a female weight.” However, the pandemic has led to front-line health workers to help patients with COVID-19 and a disorder in the global contraceptive supply chain. In addition, there was a lack of clarity around access and providing family planning services during the lock. Women were more affected by this split of sexual and reproductive health services.
During the initial lock, women who wanted to have access to facilities for long -term contraceptives were not able to get the preferred method of their birth control, as these services were not completely available. However, even after loosening the locking restrictions, the fear of the virus affected the demand for these services. Consequently, many women were based on traditional birth control methods such as consumption of sour or acidic foods. At the same time, we have noticed an increase in men who have been talking about the use of condoms in recent months. Men listed pharmacists as the main source for their family planning needs. As in the case of women, men also did not have access to health workers who could advise them on family planning, so men often turned to pharmacists for guidance. During our interviews, pharmacists in both Begusarai and Kanpur Dehat observed an increase in condom sale.
The global contraceptive chain disorder and the increased demand for family planning combined with the fear of COVID-19, which leads many to avoid health facilities, have led to some men to take a greater share of family responsibility. The rules around family design are the same, this change in the way men see family design is expected to be temporary.
The lack of family planning services will have extensive impact on women, especially in countries such as India, where family planning services were already rare. There is a need to review the priorities and skills of the health system. While there is a need to focus on the answer to Covid-19, no other health needs can be ignored. Lack of access to sexual and reproductive health can have long -term consequences for people’s well -being and health care. We need to prioritize access to family planning and safe abortion, especially as the financial crisis is exacerbated by increasing pressure on already marginalized women.
[1] The authors recognize the extensive efforts of Amrita Nandy (Independent), Falak Raza (ICRW ASIA), Rai Ganguly (Independent), Tarini Gupta (Independent), Ripudaman and Sunil (Gram Praudyogic Vikas Sansthan, Begusarai) (Shramik Bharti, Kanpur)
[2] These findings are part of an ongoing ICRW study, the couple is involved. In the context of the broader study, we conducted an inserted study on family planning in the times of Covid-19 rapid research to evaluate the impact on young men and couples.
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