OPINION: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Contraception

One of the components of the family planning program is contraception. We know that it has been 60 years since oral contraceptives became known in the world. Access to contraception sometimes still faces various challenges, including false myths, stigma, and the supply chain process (supply chain problems) and problems in the health system in general.

Information from The United Nations Population Fund – formerly known as the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) – shows that there are at least three things about contraception in the current era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

First, reports from various countries clearly show the disruption of access to contraception. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that family planning and contraceptive use is one of the programs that has been badly affected by COVID-19.

Second, the catastrophic impact for women due to disruption of family planning services. By early 2020, UNFPA had made a “modeling” estimate, the results of which show that if COVID-19 causes a six-month disruption of health services in 114 low- and middle-income countries, 47 million women will be unable to use contraception. That would have resulted in 7 million unplanned pregnancies (unplanned pregnancies).

Transportation barriers between countries due to COVID-19 also greatly affect the distribution of contraceptives. A UN agency report on the impact of COVID-19 on reproductive health shows that members of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) face supply and commodity constraints, with 59 members reporting delays in distribution within their countries and 29 countries reporting shortages of contraceptives.

Third, women certainly need to continue to realize that pregnancy planning is their right, even a human right. This is not just an aspect of public health. The existence of a pandemic cannot diminish the exercise of this right.

The UNFPA leadership emphatically stated that, “Women’s reproductive health and rights must be safeguarded at all costs. The services must continue; the supplies must be delivered; and the vulnerable must be protected and supported.“(Women’s reproductive health and rights must be safeguarded by all means. Services must continue; supplies must be fulfilled; and vulnerable parties must be protected and supported).

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