Change in childbearing intention, use of contraception, unwanted pregnancies, and related adverse events during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a panel study in rural Burkina Faso

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000174
• Publication Date: 2022-04-27T17:24:13Z
• Authors: Thomas Druetz; Sarah Cooper; Frank Bicaba; Alice Bila; Martine Shareck; David-Martin Milot; Cheick Tiendrebeogo; Abel Bicaba
• Keywords: Pandemic; Odds

Evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected women's reproductive health remains scarce, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. Deleterious indirect effects seem likely, access to contraception risk of unwanted pregnancies, but rigorous evaluations using quasi-experimental designs are lacking. Taking a diachronic perspective, we aimed investigate four indicators health: history recent adverse events during pregnancy (past), use pregnancies (present), childbearing intentions (future). This study was conducted in rural districts Burkina Faso: Banfora, Leo, Sindou Tenado. Two rounds household surveys (before pandemic) were panel 696 households standardized questionnaires. The selected stratified two-stage random sampling method. All women aged 15-49 years living eligible study. same visited twice, February 2020 2021. estimated by fitting hierarchical regression models with fixed or intercepts at individual level. A total 814 597 reported being sexually active before pandemic, respectively. odds not wanting (any more) children two times higher than (2.0, 95% CI [1.32-3.04]). Among those intention, average desired delay until next increased from 28.7 32.8 months. When comparing 2021 versus 2020, there an increase adjusted ratio (1.23, [1.08-1.40]), (2.07, [1.01-4.25]), self-reported miscarriages, abortions, stillbirths previous 12 months (2.4, [1.04-5.43]). Our findings Faso do support predicted detrimental family planning services LMICs, confirm that it negatively affects intentions. Use significantly among panel, arguably enough avoid pregnancies.