TY - JOUR
T1 - The dynamics of family planning and abortion services during COVID-19
T2 - perspectives from healthcare providers and clients in Burkina Faso
AU - The WHO HRP Social Science Research Team
AU - Chomi, Eunice Nahyuha
AU - Donessouné, Marie Gisèle
AU - Sogo, Armel
AU - Seuc, Armando Humberto
AU - Camacho, Gabriela Garcia
AU - Moazzam, Ali
AU - Kouanda, Seni
AU - Seuc, Armando
AU - Thwin, Soe Soe
AU - Toskin, Igor
AU - Kapustianyk, Grace
AU - Kuganantham, Hamsadvani
AU - Brizuela, Vanessa
AU - Kim, Caron
AU - Ali, Moazzam
AU - Williams, Deborah
AU - Vera, Jaime
AU - Huber, Jörg W.
AU - Aicken, Catherine
AU - Sawyer, Alexandra
AU - Sherri, Nigel
AU - Uccella, Stefano
AU - Garzon, Simone
AU - Savoldi, Alessia
AU - Cordioli, Maddalena
AU - Mirandola, Massimo
AU - Mohiddin, Abdu
AU - Okwaro, Ferdinand
AU - Temmerman, Marleen
AU - Rungreangkulkij, Somporn
AU - Jampathong, Nampet
AU - Sothornwit, Jen
AU - Lumbiganon, Pisake
AU - Somani, Salima
AU - Parpio, Yasmin
AU - Baig, Marina
AU - Lakhani, Arusa
AU - Ladak, Laila
AU - Karmaliani, Rozina
AU - Maya, Ernest T.
AU - Manu, Adom
AU - Modey, Emefa Judith
AU - Torpey, Kwasi
AU - Alangea, Deda Ogum
AU - Wang, Hao
AU - Xie, Xizhuo
AU - Peng, Chunxiao
AU - Yang, Ge
AU - Zhu, Yifan
AU - Zhang, Hanxiyue
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2026.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Background: The novel SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) led to an unprecedented increase in demand on health systems to care for people infected, necessitating the allocation of significant resources, especially medical resources, towards the response. This, compounded by the restrictions on movement led to disruptions in the provision of essential services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. This study assessed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on demand, utilisation and delivery of family planning and abortion services in Burkina Faso. Methods: The study used a mixed method, cross-sectional panel survey to collect data at two time points in eight health facilities in Ouagadogou and Bobo Dioulasso. Data was collected using in-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussion (FGDs) with women, their male partners, and healthcare providers and health facility availability and readiness assessments. Results: Demand for family planning services declined during the lockdown period due to movement restrictions, fear of infection and of being quarantined if found to be infected. Despite no direct demand for abortion services, healthcare providers reported increased unintended pregnancies and demand for treatment of complications of abortion, suggesting recourse to unsafe abortions. At least 30% of facilities experienced partial disruption in delivery of services, including staff shortages, supply chain challenges and reduced outpatient volumes. Health facility readiness scores remained moderate, implying existing constraints worsened by the pandemic. Conclusions: COVID-19 response and containment measures indirectly affected demand, delivery and utilisation of family planning and abortion services in Burkina Faso, by increasing the existing barriers for women and girls. Strengthening health system resilience, community-based service delivery and communication strategies is essential to ensure uninterrupted access during health emergencies.
AB - Background: The novel SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) led to an unprecedented increase in demand on health systems to care for people infected, necessitating the allocation of significant resources, especially medical resources, towards the response. This, compounded by the restrictions on movement led to disruptions in the provision of essential services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. This study assessed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on demand, utilisation and delivery of family planning and abortion services in Burkina Faso. Methods: The study used a mixed method, cross-sectional panel survey to collect data at two time points in eight health facilities in Ouagadogou and Bobo Dioulasso. Data was collected using in-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussion (FGDs) with women, their male partners, and healthcare providers and health facility availability and readiness assessments. Results: Demand for family planning services declined during the lockdown period due to movement restrictions, fear of infection and of being quarantined if found to be infected. Despite no direct demand for abortion services, healthcare providers reported increased unintended pregnancies and demand for treatment of complications of abortion, suggesting recourse to unsafe abortions. At least 30% of facilities experienced partial disruption in delivery of services, including staff shortages, supply chain challenges and reduced outpatient volumes. Health facility readiness scores remained moderate, implying existing constraints worsened by the pandemic. Conclusions: COVID-19 response and containment measures indirectly affected demand, delivery and utilisation of family planning and abortion services in Burkina Faso, by increasing the existing barriers for women and girls. Strengthening health system resilience, community-based service delivery and communication strategies is essential to ensure uninterrupted access during health emergencies.
KW - Abortion services
KW - COVID-19
KW - Complications of abortion
KW - Family planning services
KW - Service delivery
KW - Service disruption
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105046335450
U2 - 10.1186/s12978-026-02340-x
DO - 10.1186/s12978-026-02340-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 42482238
AN - SCOPUS:105046335450
SN - 1742-4755
VL - 22
JO - Reproductive Health
JF - Reproductive Health
IS - Suppl 3
M1 - 278
ER -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 5 Gender Equality