Footman, Katy and Page, Pippa and Boydell, Victoria and McLaren, Megan and Mudhune, Sandra (2023) Adapting to a global pandemic: a qualitative assessment of programmatic responses to COVID-19 in the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) programme. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 31 (1). DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2023.2260174
Footman, Katy and Page, Pippa and Boydell, Victoria and McLaren, Megan and Mudhune, Sandra (2023) Adapting to a global pandemic: a qualitative assessment of programmatic responses to COVID-19 in the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) programme. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 31 (1). DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2023.2260174
Footman, Katy and Page, Pippa and Boydell, Victoria and McLaren, Megan and Mudhune, Sandra (2023) Adapting to a global pandemic: a qualitative assessment of programmatic responses to COVID-19 in the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) programme. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 31 (1). DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2023.2260174
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally but there is little published evidence on the COVID-19 response of SRHR programmes, or lessons learned through their adaptations. To document the COVID-19 response of a global SRHR programme (the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health programme), in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 key informants from implementing partners in Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and central or regional offices, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the third-party monitoring partner. Framework analysis methods were used. Several rapid COVID-19 adaptations were identified: the development of crisis management and communication teams; increased partnership and engagement with government; reduced contact and risk in service delivery; reformulated community mobilisation; flexible performance management and remote methods of quality assurance; and sharing of learnings alongside development of new guidance and tools. Throughout the pandemic, the programme was able to continue high-quality service delivery, though equity goals proved more difficult to reach. Challenges included the continually changing environment, competing pressures on governments, burdensome reporting, and staff burnout. The pandemic response was facilitated by prior experience of public health emergencies, strong government relationships, a supportive workforce and some pre-existing approaches, tools, and systems. This study has identified important lessons that can inform programming in future crises, including the need for immediate recognition of SRHR as essential, sustained support for staff, use of multiple mechanisms to reach marginalised groups, adequate funding to reach equity goals, and better balance between the burden of reporting and accountability needs.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | pandemic; sexual and reproductive health; adaptation; lessons learned |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Health and Social Care, School of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 16 Jun 2023 09:26 |
Last Modified: | 29 Feb 2024 11:50 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/35400 |
Available files
Filename: Adapting to a global pandemic a qualitative assessment of programmatic responses to COVID-19 in the multi-country Women s Integrated Sexual Health W.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0