Exploring Key Challenges for Healthcare Providers and Stakeholders in delivering adolescent sexual and Reproductive Health Services and information during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe: A Qualitative Study
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Introduction : This study aimed to explore the direct and indirect influences of COVID-19-related restrictions on adolescents and young people's SRHR in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with a focus on teenage pregnancy and access to and utilization of HIV testing and counselling services. Methods : A qualitative case study in a larger mixed-methods study design was used. Thirty-four interviews and four group discussions were conducted with relevant stakeholders in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In Zambia, adolescents and young people were included and asked to describe their experience/perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on their SRHR. Content and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data, Results : Priority shifts resulted in the focus of service provision to the COVID-19 response, shortages of already insufficient human resources due to infection and/or isolation, supply chain disruptions leading to shortages of important SRH-related commodities and supplies, compromised quality of services such as counselling for HIV and overall limited AYP’s access to SRH information . Suggestions for interventions to improve SRH services include the need for a disaster preparedness strategy, increased funding for ASRHR, the use of community health workers and community-based ASRHR strategies, and the use of technology and social media platforms such as mhealth. Conclusion: Disruption of SRH services for AYP due to pandemic related-restrictions, and diversion of resources/funding has had a ripple effect that may have long-term consequences for AYP throughout the East and Southern African region. This calls for further investment in AYP’s access to SRHR services as progress made may have been deterred.