Table 2 Factors related to continuing services versus preventing COVID-19 in FP policy guidance
Continuation of Services | Prevention of COVID-19 Transmission | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Multimonth dispensing | Telemedicine | Outreach FP events or services | Community-based distribution of FP | Changes to facility-based services | Selected methods discouraged / temporarily suspended | Removal of long-acting and reversible contraceptives (LARCs) | |
Kenya RMNFP Guidelines | 3-month supply of oral contraceptives (OCs), contraceptive skin patches | Tele-consults recommended for low-risk clients for condoms, OCs, and contraceptive skin patches | Outreach events suspended | Community-based distribution continues but limited to condoms and pills | Group counseling suspended immediately | Bi-tubal ligation and vasectomy services suspended or postponed | Removal of LARCs can be postponed as long as method within a safe period of expiration |
Kenya Community Health Services | Not mentioned | Refills, counseling, SMS reminders to be provided by phone | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Not mentioned |
Mozambique Mitigation Circular | 3-month supply for new users; 6-month supply for subsequent consultations | Telephone calls to be used for “as many services as possible” | Not mentioned | Home visits suspended | Not mentioned | No suspension of methods; all long-term methods to be offered at all times | Not mentioned |
Uganda Continuity of Essential Health Services | 3-month supply of OCs, DMPA-SC | Contacting client whose methods are expiring or village health workers (VHWs) to support them by phone | Outreach activities should be discontinued if evidence of community transmission | Community-based distribution should be maintained | Not mentioned | Provision of all modern contraceptives should be maintained | Not mentioned |
Zimbabwe RMNCAH-N Guidelines | 3-month supply of OCs | Not mentioned | Outreach services temporarily suspended, targeted outreach activities may be held at discretion of MOH | Outreach and related activities are suspended – Community based distributors or community health workers are to stay home and provide condoms only | Not mentioned | No methods are discouraged. Use of fertility awareness methods like standard days method or lactational amenorrhea method encouraged | Removal of LARCs conducted at facilities as possible; women who select unavailable methods to be contacted when these methods become available |