Family planning and abortion services in COVID -19 pandemic
Autor
Aparna Sharma, K.
Zangmo, Rinchen
Professor, Assistant
Kumari, Archana
Kumar Roy, Kallol
Bharti, Juhi
Institución
Resumen
Many routine and elective services have already been postponed or suspended by both
Government and private setups in most parts of the world because of the unprecedented
pandemic of COVID-19. Healthcare systems everywhere in the world are under
pressure. Being a component of essential health services, family planning and abortion
services should continue to cater the population in order to prevent the complications
arising from unintended pregnancies and sudden rise in STIs. Due to airborne nature of
transmission of the virus, it is advisable for all consultations relating to family planning
services to be done remotely unless and until visit is absolutely necessary.
Contraception initiation and continuation can be done by telemedicine in most
individuals. Post partum contraception can be advised before discharge from hospital. In
an individual planning for pregnancy, currently it is not advisable to discontinue
contraceptive and plan for pregnancy as not much is known about the effect of the virus
on foetal development. Also, pregnancy requires routine antenatal and peripartum care
and complications arising from pregnancy may necessitate frequent hospital visits, exposing the individual to the risk of infection. Abortion services are time sensitive
therefore should not be denied or delayed beyond legal limit. We need to change from
real to virtual consultation to prevent the rise in unplanned pregnancies, sexually
transmitted infections and unsafe abortions.