Page 35 - IJPS-10-1

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

limiting individuals’ ability to use their preferred methods, Covidence (Kellermeyer et al., 2018) for thorough article
influencing where they are obtained and their associated screening. The results of this scoping review adhere to the
costs (Zuniga et al., 2022). This problem has led young PRISMA guidelines and follow a systematic approach to
people to adopt alternatives such as using herbs to prevent identify relevant studies, conduct screening and charting,
pregnancy or resorting to abortion. Nigeria, among the and analyze the outcomes thematically. However, it is
countries under review, has a low uptake of contraception important to acknowledge certain limitations; only articles
among adolescents in SSA, and the pandemic exacerbates published in English were included, potentially introducing
the issue as young people resort to herbal concoctions and bias at the selection level and influencing results due to
alcoholic drinks (Ogogoro) for abortion and protection the exclusion of articles in other languages. Additionally,
during the pandemic (Wusu, 2020). Although risky, the despite searching several databases and websites, our
use of alternative prevention methods was only mentioned search remains constrained by the time frame, and some
in Nigeria among the countries reviewed. It is crucial studies related to SRH during the COVID-19 pandemic
to sustain the gains achieved in SRH to guarantee the may not have been published online or in peer-reviewed
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in SSA. journals.
There is a crucial need to build resilience in the supply 5. Conclusion
chain of SRH services, a major gap evident in this review.
It is evident that the supply of SRH services was limited The study findings highlight the pressing need to address
in SSA countries, with profound consequences during the logistical challenges in providing SRH commodities to
pandemic. One of the studies, conducted in a Francophone AYA during future health emergencies. Key strategies
country among health professionals, proposed several to consider include the integration of AYF-SRHS, the
strategies, including better organization of services to incorporation of telemedicine, and the deployment of
ensure that pandemic disruptions do not impede the flow, mobile clinics to reach underserved areas (such as rural
the adaptation of guides and care procedures, training of areas and slums). These services should be prioritized
health workers, and the effective use of information and within primary health-care facilities to mitigate the
communication technology (Mongbo et al., 2021). To build difficulties associated with supplying essential health
resilience in this area, SSA countries should prioritize the commodities. Recommendations for closing the SRH
availability, awareness, and removal of barriers to AYF- demand-supply gap during public health emergencies, like
SRHS in all primary health centers, integrating them into the COVID-19 pandemic, include ensuring a consistent
routine services (Adelekan et al., 2021; Eremutha & Gabriel, supply of health commodities, particularly for AYA, and
2019; Habtu et al., 2021; Haile et al., 2020). Additionally, the the widespread availability of mobile clinics across all
training of health providers on AYA-friendly SRH services low and middle-income countries areas and regions. It is
is crucial. While concerns about the re-training of health crucial to sustain the successes achieved in health care,
providers on AYA-friendly SRH services have been raised preventing any decline and continuously striving to bridge
in the past as drivers for service utilization (Gausman et al., the gap between health-care supply and demand.
2021; Habtu et al., 2021; Weiss et al., 2018), this issue was
emphasized in the included studies (Mongbo et al., 2021; Acknowledgments
Mutea et al., 2020). The paper was presented at the Conference on Population
and Reproductive Health Dynamics Under COVID-19 in
4.1. Policy and program implications
SSA that was hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand,
This scoping review underscores the imperative for South Africa through its Demography and Population
improved and increased preparedness of health-care systems Studies Programme. The Conference was supported under
to address the specific needs of young people during health the auspices of the Science Granting Councils Initiative in
emergency situations. Health services, especially those SSA (SGCI) and administered by South Africa’s National
tailored for young people, should adopt innovative and Research Foundation in collaboration with Canada’s
technology-driven service delivery approaches, particularly International Development Research Center (IDRC),
in resource-constraint societies in SSA. the Swedish International Development Cooperation
Agency (Sida), South Africa’s Department of Science and
4.2. Strengths and limitations of the present scoping Innovation (DSI), the Fons de Recherche due Quebec
review (FRQ), the United Kingdom’s Department of International
One of the major strengths of this study lies in its rigorous Development (DFID), and the United Kingdom Research
search and screening process, facilitated by the use of the and Innovation (UKRI) through the Newton Fund.

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 29 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.366