Published 3 November 2026 | Source update: WHO, 1 November 2026. A new WHO departmental update draws together evidence from a supplement of 14 papers across nine countries examining how sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services functioned during COVID-19 and the recovery period. The countries were Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Pakistan, Thailand and the United Kingdom. The central lesson is not that one digital solution can replace clinical care: essential services must be protected, and outreach and remote care must be designed before emergencies occur.
What the nine-country evidence found
WHO reports that antenatal, postnatal, contraception and other SRH services were more vulnerable when emergency plans did not classify them as essential. Disruptions were uneven. In parts of Brazil, antenatal and postpartum visits continued while access to contraceptive follow-up deteriorated. In Burkina Faso, infection fears and travel restrictions reduced family-planning demand; later, providers observed unintended pregnancies and abortion-related complications. These are qualitative and context-specific observations, not a pooled global risk estimate.
Models that helped maintain access
- Thailand: Nurses used postpartum telephone follow-up; some contraceptive services were offered before discharge, and medicines could be delivered to homes.
- Ghana and Pakistan: Community health workers brought services closer to people unable to travel.
- Burkina Faso: Community-based distribution reached people beyond facility catchment routes.
- China: Telehealth, triage and staff redeployment helped integrate SRH into the COVID-19 response.
- Italy and the United Kingdom: Remote consultations and adapted supply arrangements helped maintain some services.
Where services failed
WHO highlights workforce shortages, supply interruptions, fear of infection, conflicting public messaging and limited access to appropriate telemedicine. Contraception and abortion care were among the slowest services to recover in several settings. The research also documented gaps in support for gender-based violence: in the Pakistan sites described by WHO, only one of nine facilities had recently trained providers to respond to violence.
Practical implications for Indian CHCs and PHCs
The following is an editorial implementation checklist, not a newly issued Indian government directive:
- Identify ANC, high-risk pregnancy review, postnatal follow-up, contraception and STI services as essential services in facility contingency plans.
- Maintain a contact and referral pathway for high-risk pregnancies, postpartum warning signs and time-sensitive reproductive care.
- Train ASHA/ANM teams for outreach, medicine continuity and safe escalation; preserve confidentiality and consent.
- Provide teleconsultation when clinically suitable, with clear criteria for urgent in-person examination.
- Audit interruptions in contraceptive supplies, referrals, follow-up and staff coverage.
- Include privacy-conscious pathways for domestic violence support and appropriate referral.
Clinical caution
Remote care does not replace emergency obstetric assessment, physical examination when indicated, ultrasound or other essential diagnostics. Suspected ectopic pregnancy, heavy bleeding, severe hypertension symptoms, sepsis or other emergency presentations require urgent facility-based assessment and referral.
What the research does not prove
The studies do not establish a single intervention as universally effective, nor do they provide a new Indian treatment guideline or medication regimen. Service models should be adapted to local resources and current national clinical protocols.
Primary source
WHO, 1 November 2026: Sustaining sexual and reproductive health through a pandemic.