Page 34 - IJPS-10-1

International Journal of
Population Studies SRH services among young people during COVID-19

and the continuous supply of essential family planning SRH services and the limited supply during the lockdown.
services (Adelekan et al., 2021; Mongbo et al., 2021). The Among the contributing factors to the discrepancies in
study also highlighted the importance of regular training for demand for and supply of SRH services was the reduction
providers on youth-friendly service delivery. Additionally, in client’s utilization of services (Adelekan et al., 2021;
despite a few facilities being opened, some faced challenges Hailemariam et al., 2021). During the pandemic, both
such as stock-outs of essential commodities, especially health-care providers and the public faced confusion and
affecting AYA. Furthermore, as a coping strategy during anxiety regarding protection against the coronavirus. This
the pandemic, some sexually active AYA resorted to herbal may be a major reason why people, especially women,
remedies and local alcoholic drinks (Wusu, 2020), though reduced their visits to health-care facilities. AYA utilize
such behaviors posed potential risks. health-care facilities less frequently due to widespread
stock-outs (Adelekan et al., 2021; Mongbo et al., 2021)
3.4. Building resilience in the supply chain of SRH of health commodities during the pandemic. The stock-
service in SSA out of contraceptives further diminished utilization, as
Two of the included studies (Adelekan et al., 2021; Mongbo there was no guarantee of provisions amid the prevailing
et al., 2021) focused on supply, gathering data from health focus on COVID-19. Several studies have mentioned
providers to guide strategies for overcoming disruptions in the diversion of attention from SRH services and its
essential services and the supply of health commodities during consequences. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic,
the pandemic. A crucial initial step in building resilience there were existing challenges related to equitable access
involves creating awareness of adolescent and youth-friendly to SRH services among adolescents and women. The
SRH services (AYF-SRHS) and ensuring their availability in all current situation exacerbates and exposes these issues.
primary health facilities, integrating them into routine services. For instance, a study reported a 5% increase in the need
This was particularly evident in Nigeria, where providers for contraception among women in Lagos (Wood et al.,
demonstrated resilience during the pandemic (Adelekan et al., 2021), indicating that equal access to SRH services still
2021). In addition, resilience can be strengthened through did not reach certain areas in SSA. Constrained access
the continuous training and re-training of health providers in and increased need among users were predominantly
AYF-SRHS, coupled with an awareness of policy reforms. observed during the lockdown (Bolarinwa, 2020; Mutea
et al., 2020; Wood et al., 2021). The lack of utilization was
4. Discussion mainly attributed to various factors such as age, income
This study aims to identify factors contributing to the status, psycho-cultural issues, parental orientation, health-
discrepancies in demand and supply of SRH services care system barriers (Binezero Mambo et al., 2021; Decker
and commodities in SSA, with the goal of identifying the et al., 2021; Hailemariam et al., 2021; Odo et al., 2021), and
research gaps. It also seeks to analyze the strategies adopted low decision power. These findings underscore the urgent
need for reorientation of SRH services for young people
and resilience built over time, offering valuable insights for at the grassroots level, increased parental involvement,
future emergency planning. The search was restricted to and health-care systems with a dedicated focus on SRH
studies published from January 2020 to December 2021, services, ensuring pandemic resilience by incorporating
encompassing articles addressing the SRH needs (family AYF-SRHS into primary health-care facilities across SSA.
planning, maternal health, and abortion services) and
commodities (contraceptives) for female AYA aged 15 – 24. Two studies (Adelekan et al., 2021; Mongbo et al., 2021),
which focus on health providers, discuss the challenges
The included studies underscored the challenges
faced by AYA in SSA during the COVID-19 lockdown. faced and strategies adopted to mitigate the effects of the
demand-supply gap. A study conducted in West Africa
Sexually active AYA requires continuous access to specific surveyed key health professionals across nine Francophone
SRH services, which are deemed essential at all times, countries, inquiring about challenges during the pandemic.
even amid a pandemic. The included studies highlighted Recorded challenges included the lack of basic materials
several issues related to the lack of access to SRH services and limited knowledge among health workers about
in most SSA countries during the lockdown, including COVID-19. The issue of stock-outs of health commodities
reduced service utilization, constraints on contraceptive requires relevant authorities to ensure an adequate
availability, and psycho-cultural challenges (culture, supply of basic materials. Even with a few facilities open
attitudes, discrimination, stress, and social capital), as during this period, the problem of stock-outs (Mongbo
observed during the pandemic.
et al., 2021) discouraged young people from utilizing the
The majority of the included studies highlighted a facilities for their health needs. A systematic review also
concerning prevalence of the gap between demand for supports concerns about stock-outs in contraceptives,

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 28 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.366