Abortion access to around 1.85 million women was compromised at all points of care, including public and private sector facilities and chemist outlets due to the triggered restrictions, according to a study conducted by Ipas Development Foundation (IDF).
Vinoj Manning, CEO, IDF said, “As majority of public health facilities and their staff are now focused on Covid-19 treatments and closures of private health facilities, access to safe abortions have been affected, which is a time-sensitive procedure. The study assesses the near-term impact of contagion on abortion access in India in the first three months following the commencement of the lockdown beginning March 25.
Dr Sushanta Kumar Banerjee from the Foundation explained that telephonic surveys was conducted and consulted with several experts from FOGSI and social marketing organisations like PSI India Private Limited.
Following analysis of the data, “we have concluded that of the 3.9 million abortions that would have taken place in 3 months, access to around 1.85 million was compromised due to the pandemic restrictions.”
The study estimates that access to abortion was highly compromised during lockdown between March 25 and May 3, 2020, in which around 59 per cent of women seeking an abortion could not access the services.
However, with the un-lock phase, the situation is expected to improve — with 33 per cent abortions being compromised in 24 days.
To meet the needs of these deprived women, the Foundation has recommended rapid mapping of facilities for first and second trimester abortions, assessing facilities’ preparedness especially for second-trimester abortions, improving referral linkage and spread the word about the availability of the service, streamlining the supply chain for medical abortion drugs, and lastly including mechanisms to offset additional travel and out of pocket expenditures.
“Many of these 1.85 million women will be coming into public and private hospitals seeking second trimester abortions and we should not be turning them away a second time,” Manning said.