Barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa; Clifford Odimegwu; Kobi V Ajayi; Tosin Olajide Oni; Rajeeb Kumar Sah; Akanni Akinyemi

doi:10.1186/s12913-024-12028-2

Barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa, Clifford Odimegwu, Kobi V Ajayi, Tosin Olajide Oni, Rajeeb Kumar Sah, Akanni Akinyemi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ensuring uninterrupted access and utilisation of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services remains crucial for preventing adverse SRH outcomes. However, the unprecedented emergence of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) significantly disrupted most of these services in Africa. Thus, we systematically reviewed and examined barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.

METHODS: We systematically searched five databases for relevant articles published between January 2020 to December 2022, and the articles were screened following the JBI and PRISMA guidelines. Meta-synthesis of barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic were reported, while a meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of barriers to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa was analysed using R.

RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of barriers to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa was 26%. Seven themes were developed for the identified barriers (disruption of healthcare services, fear and misinformation, limited availability of resources, place & region of residence, healthcare staff attitude/manpower, limited access to transportation, and stigma and discrimination), whilst six themes were developed for the identified facilitators (support for vulnerable populations, socio-demographic characteristics, community outreach programs, policy adaptations, telemedicine and digital health, and change in choice of sexual and reproductive commodities).

CONCLUSION: This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted SRH service access and utilisation in Africa. We recommend that future research consider a longitudinal examination of the pandemic on African SRH services.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022373335.

Original language	English
Article number	1554
Number of pages	16
Journal	BMC Health Services Research
Volume	24
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12028-2
Publication status	Published - 5 Dec 2024

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1186/s12913-024-12028-2Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Ensuring uninterrupted access and utilisation of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services remains crucial for preventing adverse SRH outcomes. However, the unprecedented emergence of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) significantly disrupted most of these services in Africa. Thus, we systematically reviewed and examined barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.METHODS: We systematically searched five databases for relevant articles published between January 2020 to December 2022, and the articles were screened following the JBI and PRISMA guidelines. Meta-synthesis of barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic were reported, while a meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of barriers to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa was analysed using R.RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of barriers to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa was 26\%. Seven themes were developed for the identified barriers (disruption of healthcare services, fear and misinformation, limited availability of resources, place \& region of residence, healthcare staff attitude/manpower, limited access to transportation, and stigma and discrimination), whilst six themes were developed for the identified facilitators (support for vulnerable populations, socio-demographic characteristics, community outreach programs, policy adaptations, telemedicine and digital health, and change in choice of sexual and reproductive commodities).CONCLUSION: This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted SRH service access and utilisation in Africa. We recommend that future research consider a longitudinal examination of the pandemic on African SRH services.TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022373335.",

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author = "Bolarinwa, \{Obasanjo Afolabi\} and Clifford Odimegwu and Ajayi, \{Kobi V\} and Oni, \{Tosin Olajide\} and Sah, \{Rajeeb Kumar\} and Akanni Akinyemi",

note = "Funding Information: We acknowledge the support from the Union African for Population Studies (UAPS) and the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) towards the overall objective of this study. Not applicable. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

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Barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. / Bolarinwa, Obasanjo Afolabi; Odimegwu, Clifford; Ajayi, Kobi V et al.
In: BMC Health Services Research, Vol. 24, No. 1, 1554, 05.12.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

T2 - a systematic review and meta-analysis

AU - Bolarinwa, Obasanjo Afolabi

AU - Odimegwu, Clifford

AU - Ajayi, Kobi V

AU - Oni, Tosin Olajide

AU - Sah, Rajeeb Kumar

AU - Akinyemi, Akanni

N1 - Funding Information: We acknowledge the support from the Union African for Population Studies (UAPS) and the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH) towards the overall objective of this study. Not applicable. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2024/12/5

Y1 - 2024/12/5

N2 - BACKGROUND: Ensuring uninterrupted access and utilisation of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services remains crucial for preventing adverse SRH outcomes. However, the unprecedented emergence of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) significantly disrupted most of these services in Africa. Thus, we systematically reviewed and examined barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.METHODS: We systematically searched five databases for relevant articles published between January 2020 to December 2022, and the articles were screened following the JBI and PRISMA guidelines. Meta-synthesis of barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic were reported, while a meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of barriers to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa was analysed using R.RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of barriers to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa was 26%. Seven themes were developed for the identified barriers (disruption of healthcare services, fear and misinformation, limited availability of resources, place & region of residence, healthcare staff attitude/manpower, limited access to transportation, and stigma and discrimination), whilst six themes were developed for the identified facilitators (support for vulnerable populations, socio-demographic characteristics, community outreach programs, policy adaptations, telemedicine and digital health, and change in choice of sexual and reproductive commodities).CONCLUSION: This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted SRH service access and utilisation in Africa. We recommend that future research consider a longitudinal examination of the pandemic on African SRH services.TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022373335.

AB - BACKGROUND: Ensuring uninterrupted access and utilisation of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services remains crucial for preventing adverse SRH outcomes. However, the unprecedented emergence of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) significantly disrupted most of these services in Africa. Thus, we systematically reviewed and examined barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.METHODS: We systematically searched five databases for relevant articles published between January 2020 to December 2022, and the articles were screened following the JBI and PRISMA guidelines. Meta-synthesis of barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic were reported, while a meta-analysis of the pooled prevalence of barriers to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa was analysed using R.RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of barriers to accessing and utilising SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa was 26%. Seven themes were developed for the identified barriers (disruption of healthcare services, fear and misinformation, limited availability of resources, place & region of residence, healthcare staff attitude/manpower, limited access to transportation, and stigma and discrimination), whilst six themes were developed for the identified facilitators (support for vulnerable populations, socio-demographic characteristics, community outreach programs, policy adaptations, telemedicine and digital health, and change in choice of sexual and reproductive commodities).CONCLUSION: This study found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted SRH service access and utilisation in Africa. We recommend that future research consider a longitudinal examination of the pandemic on African SRH services.TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022373335.

KW - Humans

KW - COVID-19/epidemiology

KW - Reproductive Health Services/statistics & numerical data

KW - Health Services Accessibility

KW - Africa/epidemiology

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Female

KW - Pandemics

KW - Social Stigma

KW - Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data

KW - Africa

KW - Access

KW - COVID-19

KW - Sexual and reproductive health services

KW - Barriers

KW - Utilisation

KW - Facilitators

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85211318228

U2 - 10.1186/s12913-024-12028-2

DO - 10.1186/s12913-024-12028-2

M3 - Review article

C2 - 39639274

SN - 1472-6963

VL - 24

JO - BMC Health Services Research

JF - BMC Health Services Research

IS - 1

M1 - 1554

ER -

Barriers and facilitators to accessing and utilising sexual and reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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