JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Sexual health services worldwide have been disrupted, including access to contraception and family planning services, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although numerous studies reported the negative impacts of the pandemic on sexual and reproductive health services, only a few focused on the decisions regarding contraceptive use and community access to family planning services during the pandemic. This study aims to explore the decisions on contraceptive use and access to family planning services before and during the Covid-19 pandemic amongst reproductive age couples in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Eight hundred seventy-one reproductive age couples (18-52 years old) participated in this study through an online questionnaire to examine contraceptive use and family planning service access. Furthermore, Chi-Square Tests were also conducted to identify the substantial link between contraceptive use before and during the pandemic and the respondents' backgrounds. The results showed no apparent change in the use of contraceptives before and during the pandemic. Most socioeconomic categories were associated with contraceptive use in the reproductive age couple. This study also finds that the most popular contraceptive method before the pandemic was an injection, while implants were the most popular during the pandemic. Contraceptive preference among reproductive-aged couples was generally based on safety and ease of use. Family planning services during the pandemic have been generally obtained from community health centers, midwife clinics, and hospitals. Overall, the results indicate that the preference for contraceptive use was consistent, although the type of contraceptive used was changed.