Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
BMJ Sex Reprod Health. 2024 Oct 15;50(4):242-251. doi: 10.1136/bmjsrh-2023-202206.
The COVID-19 pandemic response prompted rapid changes to how contraceptive services were delivered in England. Our aim was to examine women's experiences of accessing contraceptive services since March 2020 and to understand any inequalities of access.
We conducted telephone interviews with 31 women aged 17-54 years who had accessed contraceptive services in England since March 2020. The sample was skewed to include participants with lower educational attainment and higher deprivation. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed using inductive and deductive approaches.
Few differences were found regarding educational attainment. Participants using contraceptive injections (all living in areas in the most deprived quintile) reported the greatest access challenges. Some switched method or stopped using contraception as a result. More general barriers reported by participants included service closures, unclear booking processes, and lack of appointment availability. Many participants welcomed the flexibility and convenience of remote contraceptive services. However, telephone appointments posed challenges for those at school or living with parents, and some described them as rushed and inconducive to asking questions or raising concerns. Those accessing contraception for the first time or nearing menopause felt they were unable to access sufficient support and guidance during the pandemic. Some participants voiced concerns around the lasting effects of COVID-19 on appointment availability and inadequate service delivery.
Women's experiences of accessing contraceptive services in England since March 2020 are diverse. While remote services were suitable for some, COVID-19 restrictions unequally impacted women depending on their method of contraception and life stage.
COVID-19 大流行促使英国迅速改变了避孕服务的提供方式。我们的目的是调查自 2020 年 3 月以来妇女获得避孕服务的体验，并了解任何获取方面的不平等。
我们对 31 名年龄在 17-54 岁之间的妇女进行了电话访谈，这些妇女自 2020 年 3 月以来在英格兰获得了避孕服务。该样本偏向于包括教育程度较低和贫困程度较高的参与者。使用归纳和演绎方法对访谈记录进行了主题分析。
在教育程度方面几乎没有发现差异。使用避孕注射剂的参与者（均居住在最贫困五分位数的地区）报告了最大的获取障碍。一些人因此改变了方法或停止使用避孕措施。参与者报告的更普遍的障碍包括服务关闭、预订流程不明确以及缺乏预约。许多参与者对远程避孕服务的灵活性和便利性表示欢迎。然而，对于在学校或与父母同住的人来说，电话预约带来了挑战，一些人形容这些预约仓促，不利于提问或表达担忧。那些首次寻求避孕或接近绝经期的人觉得自己在大流行期间无法获得足够的支持和指导。一些参与者对预约可用性和服务提供不足的 COVID-19 持续影响表示担忧。
自 2020 年 3 月以来，英格兰妇女获得避孕服务的体验各不相同。虽然远程服务对一些人来说是合适的，但 COVID-19 限制根据妇女的避孕方法和生活阶段对其产生了不平等的影响。
