1
|
Endler M, Ramirez-Negrin A, Johnson TRB. Editorial: Women facing crises. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023; 163:343-344. [PMID: 37859624 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Margit Endler
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Endler M, Al-Haidari T, Benedetto C, Chowdhury S, Christilaw J, El Kak F, Galimberti D, Garcia-Moreno C, Gutierrez M, Ibrahim S, Kumari S, McNicholas C, Mostajo Flores D, Muganda J, Ramirez-Negrin A, Senanayake H, Sohail R, Temmerman M, Gemzell-Danielsson K. How the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is impacting sexual and reproductive health and rights and response: Results from a global survey of providers, researchers, and policy-makers. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2020; 100:571-578. [PMID: 33179265 PMCID: PMC8247356 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We aimed to give a global overview of trends in access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and what is being done to mitigate its impact. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed a descriptive analysis and content analysis based on an online survey among clinicians, researchers, and organizations. Our data were extracted from multiple-choice questions on access to SRHR services and risk of SRHR violations, and written responses to open-ended questions on threats to access and required response. RESULTS The survey was answered by 51 people representing 29 countries. Eighty-six percent reported that access to contraceptive services was less or much less because of COVID-19, corresponding figures for surgical and medical abortion were 62% and 46%. The increased risk of gender-based and sexual violence was assessed as moderate or severe by 79%. Among countries with mildly restrictive abortion policies, 69% had implemented changes to facilitate access to abortion during the pandemic, compared with none among countries with severe restrictions (P < .001), 87.5% compared with 46% had implemented changes to facilitate access to contraception (P = .023). The content analysis showed that (a) prioritizations in health service delivery at the expense of SRHR, (b) lack of political will, (c) the detrimental effect of lockdown, and (d) the suspension of sexual education, were threats to SRHR access (theme 1). Requirements to mitigate these threats (theme 2) were (a) political will and support of universal access to SRH services, (b) the sensitization of providers, (c) free public transport, and (d) physical protective equipment. A contrasting third theme was the state of exception of the COVID-19 pandemic as a window of opportunity to push forward women's health and rights. CONCLUSIONS Many countries have seen decreased access to and increased violations of SRHR during the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries with severe restrictions on abortion seem less likely to have implemented changes to SRHR delivery to mitigate this impact. Political will to support the advancement of SRHR is often lacking, which is fundamental to ensuring both continued access and, in a minority of cases, the solidification of gains made to SRHR during the pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margit Endler
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Taghreed Al-Haidari
- Scientific Affairs Unit, Al Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Chiara Benedetto
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sant´Anna University Hospital, Torino, Italy
| | - Sameena Chowdhury
- Obstetrical and Gynecological Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jan Christilaw
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Faysal El Kak
- American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, and International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Desirée Mostajo Flores
- The Bolivian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Santa Cruz de la Sierra La Paz, Bolivia
| | - John Muganda
- The Rwanda Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | | | - Rubina Sohail
- Services Institute of Medical Sciences/Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Marleen Temmerman
- Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya and Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Endler M, Al Haidari T, Chowdhury S, Christilaw J, El Kak F, Galimberti D, Gutierrez M, Ramirez-Negrin A, Senanayake H, Sohail R, Temmerman M, Danielsson KG. Sexual and reproductive health and rights of refugee and migrant women: gynecologists' and obstetricians' responsibilities. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2020; 149:113-119. [PMID: 32012258 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.13111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services is Target 3.7 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Refugee and migrant women and children are at particular risk of being forgotten in the global momentum to achieve this target. In this article we discuss the violations of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of particular relevance to the refugee and migrant reality. We give context-specific examples of denial of health services to vulnerable groups; lack of dignity as a barrier to care; the vulnerability of adolescents; child marriage; weaponized rape; gender-based violence; and sexual trafficking. We discuss rights frameworks and models that are being used in response to these situations, as well as what remains to be done. Specifically, we call for obstetricians and gynecologists to act as individual providers and through their FIGO member societies to protect women's health and rights in these exposed settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margit Endler
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Women's Health Reserch Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | - Jan Christilaw
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Faysal El Kak
- Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Diana Galimberti
- Department of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Hospital General de Agudos Dr Teodoro Alvarez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Atziri Ramirez-Negrin
- National Institute of Perinatology, Hospital General Dr Manuel Gea Gonzáles, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Hemantha Senanayake
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Rubina Sohail
- Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Service Hospital Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Marleen Temmerman
- Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.,Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kristina Gemzell Danielsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|