Ma Richard, Foley Kimberley, Saxena Sonia
Child Health Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
Child Health Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
BJGP Open. 2022 Sep 28;6(3). doi: 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0218. Print 2022 Sep.
The first wave of lockdown measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK resulted in suspension of 'non-essential' services, including contraceptive care.
To examine women's perceptions and experiences of contraceptive care in the UK during the first lockdown.
DESIGN & SETTING: A cross-sectional survey during the lockdown period from March-June 2020.
An online questionnaire was designed asking women aged 16-54 years their experiences of contraceptive care during lockdown. Questions were based on Maxwell's evaluation framework on access, acceptability, relevance or appropriateness, and equity. It was promoted on social media from 27 May-9 June 2020. A descriptive analysis was conducted of quantitative data and thematic analysis of free-text data.
In total, 214 responses were analysed. General practice was the source of contraception for 43.4% ( = 49) and 52.3% ( = 34) of responders before and during the lockdown, respectively. The study found 55.1% ( = 118) of responders, including regular and new users, were uncertain where or how to get contraception during the pandemic. Responders reported reduced access to contraception during lockdown, and some thought sexual health clinics and general practices were closed. Remote consultations and electronic prescriptions facilitated contraceptive access for some responders. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) was unavailable in some areas owing to restrictions, and alternatives were not acceptable to those who used methods for non-contraceptive benefits to treat medical conditions; for example, menorrhagia.
The study highlighted the need for better information and signposting for contraception during lockdown. Contraception, including LARC, should be reframed as an essential service with robust signposting for pandemic planning and beyond.
英国为控制新冠疫情而采取的首轮封锁措施导致包括避孕护理在内的“非必要”服务暂停。
调查英国首轮封锁期间女性对避孕护理的看法和经历。
2020年3月至6月封锁期间的一项横断面调查。
设计了一份在线问卷，询问16至54岁女性在封锁期间的避孕护理经历。问题基于麦克斯韦关于可及性、可接受性、相关性或适宜性以及公平性的评估框架。该问卷于2020年5月27日至6月9日在社交媒体上推广。对定量数据进行了描述性分析，对自由文本数据进行了主题分析。
共分析了214份回复。在封锁前和封锁期间，分别有43.4%（=49）和52.3%（=34）的回复者通过全科医疗获取避孕措施。研究发现，55.1%（=118）的回复者，包括长期使用者和新使用者，在疫情期间不确定在哪里或如何获取避孕措施。回复者报告称在封锁期间获取避孕措施的机会减少，一些人认为性健康诊所和全科医疗关闭了。远程咨询和电子处方为一些回复者提供了获取避孕措施的便利。由于限制，一些地区无法提供长效可逆避孕法（LARC），对于那些利用非避孕益处来治疗疾病（如月经过多）的使用者来说，替代方法不可接受。
该研究强调了在封锁期间需要更好地提供避孕信息和指引。包括LARC在内的避孕措施应被重新界定为一项基本服务，并在大流行规划及以后提供有力的指引。
