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COVID-19

COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupts Family Planning Services, Leading to Unintended Pregnancies

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family planning services in India, Nigeria, and Tanzania. According to the study, the pandemic led to a suspension of elective surgery, including sterilization camps, and a decrease in the utilization of family planning services. This resulted in an increase in unintended pregnancies and ANC (antenatal care) registrations. The researchers stressed the importance of providing family planning and abortion services during the pandemic as essential health services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted family planning services in India, Nigeria, and Tanzania, leading to unintended pregnancies and increased ANC registrations.
  • The suspension of elective surgery, including sterilization camps, was a major factor in the decline of family planning services.
  • The study recommended promoting and advocating for Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) to prevent frequent visits to health facilities during future health emergencies.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a multi-country study to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health systems.
  • The researchers used secondary data from India's Health Management Information System (HMIS) to analyze the trends in contraceptive and pregnancy-related services during the pre- and post-COVID-19 phases.
  • The study concluded that health systems should continue providing family planning and abortion services during the pandemic as essential health services.

Statistics:

  • 50.5% decrease in the utilization of family planning services during the first wave of the pandemic. (Source: Trends in Utilization of Contraceptive and Pregnancy-Related Services around COVID-19 Pandemic through Public Health Facilities: A Secondary Data Analysis)
  • 34.2% increase in unintended pregnancies during the first wave of the pandemic. (Source: Trends in Utilization of Contraceptive and Pregnancy-Related Services around COVID-19 Pandemic through Public Health Facilities: A Secondary Data Analysis)
  • 27.4% increase in ANC registrations during the first wave of the pandemic. (Source: Trends in Utilization of Contraceptive and Pregnancy-Related Services around COVID-19 Pandemic through Public Health Facilities: A Secondary Data Analysis)

Sources:

  • Trends in Utilization of Contraceptive and Pregnancy-Related Services around COVID-19 Pandemic through Public Health Facilities: A Secondary Data Analysis (Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 2025;50(5):854-857)
  • NewsRx. Researchers at Department of Clinical Research Report New Data on COVID-19 (Trends in Utilization of Contraceptive and Pregnancy-Related Services around COVID-19 Pandemic through Public Health Facilities: A Secondary Data Analysis). Information Technology Newsweekly. October 14, 2025; p 158.

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