Datsenko A, Marriott A, Shaw J, Patel R, Foley E. Complex contraception provision during the COVID-19 pandemic, how did sexual health services fare?
Int J STD AIDS 2022;
33:467-471. [PMID:
35231202 PMCID:
PMC8894912 DOI:
10.1177/09564624221076616]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Background
This study evaluated whether sexual health services (SHS) across the UK could
meet the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH) standard for
access by being able to offer an appointment for a long-acting reversible
contraception (LARC) fitting within 2 weeks of initial contact.
Methods
SHSs offering LARCs were identified using the British Association for Sexual
Health and HIV (BASHH) clinic database. During October 2020, all clinics
open for more than 1 day a week were contacted by telephone. The researcher
posed as a 20-year-old woman in a regular heterosexual relationship who was
using condoms and requesting a contraceptive implant. Data collected
included the time to wait to appointment and whether clinics offered
bridging methods of contraception during any delay in appointment. It was
also noted whether a local COVID-19 restriction was in place at the time of
the call. The information collected was coded, and data was analysed using
chi-square tests in SPSSv27.
Results
Of the 218 contactable clinics, 51.4% (n = 112) of clinics
offered the patient an appointment within two weeks, and 66.1%
(n = 144) of clinics could offer appointments within
four weeks. 7.3% (n = 16) of clinics offered the patient
adjunct bridging oral contraception until the time of appointment. Comparing
the devolved nations, 11/17 (64.7%) clinics in Scotland, 8/13 (61.5%)
clinics in Wales, 0/4 (0.0%) clinics in Northern Ireland and 93/182 (51.1%)
clinics in England offered an appointment within two weeks with significant
regional variation across England (p = .005). No
statistically significant difference was demonstrated in access between
clinics with or without high-level COVID-19 restrictions (p
= .056).
Conclusion
The 2-week standard was met in just over half of the occasions, with
significant variation across regions across the UK. The development of a
national target for access may improve access to LARCs.
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