An assessment collected public voices on their level of awareness on COVID-19 in relation to access to reproductive maternal health care services and SRHR services.
In 2020, TICAH conducted an assessment to understand the extent of the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on Sexual Reproductive Health services in selected informal settlements in Kenya. The assessment collected public voices on their level of awareness on COVID-19 in relation to reproductive maternal health care services access at all levels of care and captured the effects of Covid 19 on access to SRHR services and livelihoods. 48 respondents from four different categories of Young Mothers aged 18-24, Girls aged 18 - 24 years (Not young mother), Women of reproductive age 25 years & above, Women of reproductive age 25 years & above and a Community Health Volunteer from 7 counties were interviewed. 36% of the coded responses said they faced economic strains that also affected their ability to acquire basic commodities like sanitary pads. The pandemic also contributed to a rise in the cases of Gender Based Violence at 4% according to the coded responses from the analysis. Covid 19 affected access to health services including maternal health, abortion services and other SRHR. Findings from the study reveal that 15% of the coded responses lacked of access to health services, family planning and other SRHR related services including abortion. Respondents reported an increase in unintended pregnancies and early marriages constituting 12% and 10% respectively of all coded response.