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COVID 19: Health and Gender Key Messages
This page collects main messages from UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The messages focus mostly on the effect of COVID-19 on Maternal Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and on different populations. The messages can be included in Wikipedia either to improve and reference topics covered in articles, or used as quotes.
These messages may be key facts on aspects of the pandemic, recommendations of actions to take (which can be added to Wikipedia as 'this organisation recommends....) or other topics. All messages should include references
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UNFPA messages
These tables represent a selection of the messages from UNFPA. On the COVID-19 project page on English Language Wikipedia, there are more messages on more topics, and also messages from other agencies, such as UN Women.
Overarching theme: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Gender Equality in the context of COVID-19
| Topic | Message | References | Where this information has been added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sexual and Reproductive Health | The COVID-19 pandemic is causing major health service disruptions. More than 47 million women could lose access to contraception, leading to 7 million unintended pregnancies, if the lockdown continues for 6 months. |
Technical Brief: Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and Promoting Gender Equality | |
| Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence | Women represent 70 percent of the health and social sector workforce globally and special attention should be given to how their work environment may expose them to discrimination, as well as thinking about their sexual and reproductive health and psychosocial needs as frontline health workers.
|
Technical Brief: Protecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and Promoting Gender Equality | Swedish:Coronaviruspandemin_2019–2020 |
| Projected impact on access to family planning | As of March 2020, there were an estimated 450 million women using modern contraceptives across 114 priority low- and middle-income countries. The COVID-19 pandemic as well as social distancing and other strategies to reduce transmission are anticipated to impact the ability of these women to continue using contraception.
● For every 3 months the lockdown continues, assuming high levels of disruption, up to 2 million additional women may be unable to use modern contraceptives ● If the lockdown continues for 6 months and there are major service disruptions due to COVID-19, an additional 7 million unintended pregnancies are expected to occur ● The number of unintended pregnancies will increase as the lockdown continues and services disruptions are extended |
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Planning and Ending Gender-based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage (pages 2 - 3) | Gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Project impact on GBV | The COVID-19 pandemic is also expected to increase levels of violence. In the immediate term, the largest contributor is likely to come from the effects of stay-at-home orders and movement restrictions, which could increase women’s exposure to violent partners. Mounting household tensions and economic stresses could also play a role. There are already indications that violence incidence is indeed growing, including increases in calls to violence prevention hotlines and media reports of rising domestic abuse and homicide.
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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Planning and Ending Gender-based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage (pages 3 - 4) | Swedish:Coronaviruspandemin_2019–2020 |
Sub-theme 1: Maternal and Newborn Health & COVID-19
| Topic | Message | References | Where this information has been added |
| COVID-19 effects on pregnant women | There is no current evidence of adverse effects on pregnant women from COVID-19. The physical and immune system changes that occur during and after pregnancy should however be taken into account.
It is critical that all women have access to safe birth, the continuum of antenatal and postnatal care, including screening tests according to national guidelines and standards, especially in epicenters of the pandemic, where access to services for pregnant women, women in labour and delivery, and lactating women is negatively impacted. |
COVID-19 Technical Brief for Maternity Services | Swedish:Coronavirusutbrottet_2020_i_Sverige (diff) · |
| COVID-19 effects on pregnant women | There is no current evidence of vertical transmission of Covid19 from mother to child, and women are encouraged to breastfeed as normal to the extent possible and in consultation with their health care provider, there are no indications that separating the child from the mother would be beneficial. | COVID-19 Technical Brief for Maternity Services | Swedish: Covid-19 · Covid-19 och graviditet |
| COVID-19 effects on pregnant women | Pregnant women with respiratory illnesses must be treated with utmost priority due to increased risk of adverse outcomes.
Antenatal, neonatal and maternal health units must be segregated from identified COVID-19 cases. |
COVID-19 Technical Brief for Maternity Services | Swedish: Coronavirusutbrottet_2020_i_Sverige (diff) · |
| COVID-19 effects on pregnant women | Childbirth, antenatal care and postnatal care are carried out by midwives and represent some of the most important health care services in the women’s health sector and are directly linked to mortality and morbidity rates | COVID-19 Technical Brief for Maternity Services | Swedish: Covid-19 och graviditet |
| COVID-19 effects on pregnant women | It can be expected that the reorganisation/ removal of funds from sectors that midwives work in, will directly be linked to an upward trend of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality pushing countries further away from their SDG targets] | COVID-19 Technical Brief for Maternity Services | Swedish: Covid-19 och graviditet |
Sub-theme 2: Modern Contraceptives, RH Commodities and Other Medical Supply Needs, Including for COVID-19 Prevention, Protection and Response
| Topic | Message | References | Where this information has been added |
| Modern Contraception and Family Planning Use | All modern methods of contraception are safe to use, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have had a baby in the last six months or have a health condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or breast cancer – or if you smoke – seek advice from a health care professional to ensure you are using a method of contraception which is suitable and safe for you. |
WHO - Q&A on Contraception/Family planning and COVID-19 | Swedish: Covid-19 och graviditet |
| Modern Contraception and Family Planning Use | All modern methods of contraception help to prevent pregnancy. Women and their partners can choose any modern contraceptive method that is acceptable to and safe for them. The best method of contraception is the one that works well for the individual.
Condoms, when they are used consistently and correctly, are the only method of contraception that help to prevent unintended pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. They can be used together with other methods of contraception to protect against both unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Emergency contraceptive pills can prevent up to 95% of pregnancies when taken within 5 days after intercourse, and they can be taken by anyone with or without a health condition |
WHO - Q&A on Contraception/Family planning and COVID-19 | Swedish: Covid-19 och graviditet |
| Modern Contraception and Family Planning Use | Removal of long acting methods such as implants or IUDs, after the recommended period of use (and routine follow up appointments) may not be prioritized by country’s health system during this health emergency. Seek advice from your health provider.
If, due to restrictions on movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic you cannot have your long acting method removed straight away, it is important to use another method of contraception to avoid pregnancy at this time. There are no medical problems caused by delaying removal of long acting methods such as implants or IUDs. Do not try to remove the contraception method yourself; wait until you are able to access health care from a trained provider. |
WHO - Q&A on Contraception/Family planning and COVID-19 | Swedish: Covid-19 och graviditet |
| Impacts of COVID-19 on Family planning | Contraception and family planning information and services are life-saving and important at all times. Sexual activity does not cease with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is therefore crucial to ensure that people are able to access rights-based services and information to initiate and / or continue use of contraception.
By preventing unintended pregnancies, contraception helps to protect girls and women from the negative health consequences of unintended pregnancies, which can save their lives. Contraception reduces the need for abortion, meaning that women and girls are less at risk of unsafe abortion, which again can be lifesaving. Condoms, when used consistently and correctly, help to prevent both unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (including HIV). In addition, by preventing the negative health consequences associated with unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion and sexually transmitted infections (including HIV), contraception can help alleviate unnecessary additional pressure on already-stretched health systems which are working hard to address COVID-19. |
WHO - Q&A on Contraception/Family planning and COVID-19 | Swedish: Covid-19 och graviditet |
| Policy | WHO recommends policy-makers should:
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WHO - Q&A on Contraception/Family planning and COVID-19 | Swedish: Covid-19 och graviditet |
Sub-Theme 3: Adolescents and Young People
| Topic | Message | References | Where this information has been added |
| COVID-19: Working with and for young people | This global crisis is exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and inequalities experienced by young people, all further amplified in humanitarian contexts where fragility, conflict, and emergencies have undermined institutional capacity and limited access to services.
Young migrants, young people who are internally displaced and refugees, young people living in poor, high-density urban areas, young people without a home, young people living with disabilities, girls and young women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) young people and those living with HIV will be particularly affected; young people separated from, unaccompanied by, or left behind by migrant working parents face higher risks of exploitation, violence and mental health issues, and already poor access to health services and protection.
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https://www.unfpa.org/resources/covid-19-working-and-young-people | Coronaviruspandemin_2019–2020#Påverkan_på_sexuell_och_reproduktiv_hälsa_och_rättigheter |
Sub-theme 4: COVID-19 and Older Persons
| Topic | Message | References | Where this information has been added |
| COVID-19 and older persons | Older people are particularly affected by COVID-19. They need special attention during the COVID-19 crisis, and their voices, opinions and concerns must be heard. | https://www.unfpa.org/resources/implications-covid-19-older-persons-responding-pandemic | en:Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic #Elderly care |
| COVID-19 and older persons | Global data are extremely uncertain at present, nonetheless, the heightened risks of COVID-19 for older persons are evident in all national data. The scale of testing and nature of reporting vary between governments and hence there is risk of misinformation by generalizing from the experience and reports of a given country. | https://www.unfpa.org/resources/implications-covid-19-older-persons-responding-pandemic | Covid-19-provtagning en:Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic #Elderly care
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| COVID-19 and older persons | While the number of older persons is relatively and absolutely smaller in developing countries, particularly in Africa, this coincides with other serious structural risks. Countries with the fewest older persons (such as many of the least developed countries), have the fewest health resources, limited experience caring for older patients (including few geriatric specialists), less institutional care for older persons, and far fewer public or NGO support structures for outreach, screening and community-based care of older persons. | https://www.unfpa.org/resources/implications-covid-19-older-persons-responding-pandemic | en:Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic #Elderly care
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| COVID-19 and older persons | Older persons living in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, are particularly vulnerable to infection and adverse outcomes from COVID-19. | https://www.unfpa.org/resources/implications-covid-19-older-persons-responding-pandemic | en:Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic #Elderly care
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| COVID-19 and older persons | Older persons who live alone may face barriers to obtaining accurate information, food, medication, and other essential supplies during quarantine conditions and community outreach is required. | https://www.unfpa.org/resources/implications-covid-19-older-persons-responding-pandemic | en:Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic #Elderly care
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| COVID-19 and older persons | Older persons, especially in isolation, those with cognitive decline, and those who are highly care-dependent, need a continuum of practical and emotional support through informal networks (families), health workers, caregivers, and volunteers. | https://www.unfpa.org/resources/implications-covid-19-older-persons-responding-pandemic | en:Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic #Elderly care |