Understanding women of color’s reproductive health care experience and access to contraception during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-method sequential explanatory study
Contraception
Awarded 2021
Emerging Scholars in Family Planning
Marlene Joannie Bewa, MD, MPH
University of South Florida
$7,500

Marlene Joannie Bewa is a doctoral student in Community and Family Health at the University of South Florida. Dr. Bewa’s project will explore how the current COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting society and affecting social, economic, political life as well as individuals’ health and wellbeing. There is no doubt that sexual and reproductive health and rights will be compromised during health emergencies and existing disparities, inequities, stigmas, and vulnerabilities will be exacerbated. The disruption that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to affect access and use of reproductive health services, contraceptive methods and condom availability, increase risks of contraceptive discontinuation or methods switching, unintended pregnancies, STIs, and HIV infection. Additionally, stigma is likely to further compound logistical barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health care for minority women and marginalized groups. The proposed study aims at understanding women of color’s reproductive health care experience and access to contraception during the COVID-19 pandemic through a mixed-method sequential explanatory study. More specifically, it aims at identifying facilitators and barriers to seeking and accessing sexual and reproductive health services including contraception during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as successful interventions and best practices to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services including contraception during and after health emergencies such as COVID-19.