Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive Health in Marginalised Areas: Renewing Community Involvement Strategies beyond the Worst of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Murewanhema, G.; Musuka, G.; Gwanzura, C.; Makurumidze, R.; Chitungo, I.; Chimene, M.; Tungwarara, N.; Dzinamarira, T.; Madziyire, M.G.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(6)
2022
ISSN/ISBN: 1660-4601 PMID: 35329118 Document Number: 534339
The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdowns have brought unprecedented challenges for Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive Health (MSRH) services. Components of MSRH services adversely affected include antenatal, postnatal, and newborn care; provision of family planning and post-abortion care services; sexual and gender-based violence care and prevention; and care and treatment for sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Resuscitating, remodeling or inventing interventions to restore or maintain these essential services at the community level, as a gateway to higher care, is critical to mitigating short and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on essential MSRH. We propose a possible framework for community involvement and propose integrating key information, education, and communication of MSRH messages within COVID-19 messages.