Consultant, Itad, Hove, UK; PhD Student, London School of Economics, London, UK.
Consultant, Itad, Hove, UK.
Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023 Dec;31(1):2260174. doi: 10.1080/26410397.2023.2260174. Epub 2023 Oct 13.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally but there is little published evidence on the COVID-19 response of SRHR programmes, or lessons learned through their adaptations. To document the COVID-19 response of a global SRHR programme (the Women's Integrated Sexual Health programme), in-depth interviews were conducted between April and July 2021 with 22 key informants from implementing partners in Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and central or regional offices, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the third-party monitoring partner. Framework analysis methods were used. Several rapid COVID-19 adaptations were identified: the development of crisis management and communication teams; increased partnership and engagement with government; reduced contact and risk in service delivery; reformulated community mobilisation; flexible performance management and remote methods of quality assurance; and sharing of learnings alongside the development of new guidance and tools. Throughout the pandemic, the programme was able to continue high-quality service delivery, though equity goals proved more difficult to reach. Challenges included the continually changing environment, competing pressures on governments, burdensome reporting, and staff burnout. The pandemic response was facilitated by prior experience of health emergencies, strong government relationships, a supportive workforce and some pre-existing approaches, tools, and systems. This study has identified important lessons that can inform programming in future crises, including the need for immediate recognition of SRHR as essential, sustained support for staff, use of multiple mechanisms to reach marginalised groups, adequate funding for equity goals, and a better balance between the burden of reporting and accountability needs.
新冠疫情大流行在全球范围内对性健康和生殖健康及权利（SRHR）造成了重大干扰，但有关 SRHR 方案对新冠疫情的应对措施，或通过调整从中吸取的经验教训，相关文献却很少。为记录全球 SRHR 方案（妇女综合性健康方案）的新冠疫情应对情况，我们于 2021 年 4 月至 7 月期间，对塞拉利昂、埃塞俄比亚以及中央或区域办事处的实施伙伴、英国外交、联邦和发展办公室以及第三方监测伙伴的 22 名主要知情者进行了深入访谈。采用框架分析方法。确定了几项快速的新冠疫情调整措施：成立危机管理和沟通小组；增加与政府的伙伴关系和参与度；减少服务提供中的接触和风险；重新制定社区动员计划；灵活的绩效管理和远程质量保证方法；以及在制定新指南和工具的同时分享经验教训。在整个疫情期间，该方案能够继续提供高质量的服务，但实现公平目标却变得更加困难。挑战包括不断变化的环境、政府面临的竞争压力、繁琐的报告工作以及员工倦怠。先前应对卫生紧急情况的经验、与政府的牢固关系、支持性的员工队伍以及一些预先存在的方法、工具和系统，为疫情应对提供了便利。本研究确定了一些重要经验教训，可为未来的危机规划提供参考，包括立即认识到 SRHR 的重要性、为员工提供持续支持、利用多种机制接触边缘化群体、为实现公平目标提供充足资金，以及在报告负担和问责制需求之间取得更好的平衡。
