Factors Associated with Women’s Contraceptive Use and Access to Contraceptive Methods During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Öz

Background: Due to the pandemic, the use of contraceptive methods in women was restricted, and many of them even faced problems such as abortion and unplanned pregnancy because they could not access the contraceptive methods. Objective: This study aimed to determine women’s use of modern contraceptive methods during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine the predictors of access to modern contraceptives. Method: Women (n=502) aged 18-49, fertile and using any contraceptive methods were included in the study. Data were collected via an online survey. The use and access to contraceptives during the pandemic were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Multiple regression analysis, odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to investigate contraception access difficulties and change predictors. Results: The results of this study indicate that 64.9% of the participants were utilizing modern contraceptive methods, while 23.5% were concerned about obtaining contraceptives during the pandemic. Furthermore, 6% of the women experienced difficulty accessing contraceptives during this period, and 6.2% altered their contraceptive methods. The primary predictor of women’s difficulty in accessing contraceptives during the pandemic was the absence of access to the method prior to the pandemic in a similar manner (OR:40.0 95%CI=12.3-129.9; p=.001). Additionally, It was also found that women who changed their methods during the pandemic had 4.47 times more difficulty in accessing the new method. Conclusion: Having experienced an unintended pregnancy before the pandemic and fear of 48 becoming pregnant during the pandemic were found to be important determinants of the contraceptive change. This study shows evidence that the pandemic has affected contraceptive access. In this regard, planning initiatives to increase access to contraception services is recommended.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Covid-19
• Contraception
• Pandemic
• Reproductive Health

COVID-19 Pandemisinde Kadınların Kontraseptif Yöntem Kullanımı ve Kontraseptif Yöntemlere Erişimi ile İlişkili Faktörler

Öz

Giriş: Pandemi nedeniyle kadınlarda kontraseptif yöntem kullanımı kısıtlanmış, hatta birçoğu yöntemlere ulaşamadığı için düşük, plansız gebelik gibi sorunlarla karşı karşıya kalmıştır. Amaç: Bu çalışmada COVID-19 pandemisinde kadınların modern kontraseptif yöntem kullanımını belirlemek ve yöntemlere erişiminin belirleyicilerini incelemek amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışmaya 18-49 yaş arası, fertil (n=502) ve herhangi bir kontraseptif yöntem kullanan kadınlar dahil edildi. Veriler çevrimiçi anket ile toplanmıştır. Pandemi döneminde kontrasepsif kullanımı ve erişim durumu tanımlayıcı istatistik ile analiz edilmiştir. Kontrasepsiyon erişim güçlüğü ve kontraseptif yöntem değişikliğinin yordayıcılarını araştırmak için çoklu regresyon analizi yapılarak, olasılık oranları ve %95 güven aralıkları hesaplanmıştır. Bulgular: Bu çalışmaya katılan kadınların %64.9’unun pandemi sırasında modern kontraseptif yöntem kullandığı ve %23.5’inin kontraseptiflere erişim konusunda endişeli olduğu belirlendi. Kadınların %6’sı pandemi sırasında kontraseptif yönteme erişimde zorluk yaşadığını ve %6.2’si doğum kontrol yöntemlerini değiştirdiğini ifade etmiştir. Pandemi döneminde kadınların kontraseptiflere erişim güçlüğünün en önemli belirleyicisi, pandemi öncesi dönemde de benzer şekilde yönteme erişememeleridir (OR:40.0 %95 CI=12.3-129.9; p=.001). Ayrıca pandemi sırasında yöntemlerini değiştiren kadınların yeni yönteme erişimde 4.47 kat daha fazla zorluk yaşadıkları tespit edildi. Sonuç: Bu çalışmada, pandeminin kontraseptif yönteme erişimi etkilediğine dair kanıtlar bulunmuştur. Pandemi öncesi istenmeyen gebelik yaşamanın ve pandemide gebe kalma korkusunun kontraseptif değişikliğinin önemli yordayıcıları olduğu belirlendi. Bu doğrultuda kontrasepsiyon hizmetlerine erişimin artırılmasına yönelik girişimlerin planlanması önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Covid-19
• Kontrasepsiyon
• Pandemi
• Üreme Sağlığı

Kaynakça

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