The Hidden Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women in India

Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was first reported in China in December 2019, and the World Health Organization declared the outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The number of confirmed cases has risen alarmingly in most countries across all continents over the past few months. The current COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) with disruptions in the regular provision of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services such as maternal care, safe abortion services, contraception, prevention and the treatment of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Other aspects that merit attention include a probable increase in domestic violence, sexual abuse, and the effects of the stigma associated with coronavirus infection on SRH clients and health care providers. Furthermore, as the coronavirus infection is relatively new, only minimal data is available to understand the impact of this disease on SRH, including coronavirus infection complicating pregnancies, and in people with STI/HIV-related immunosuppression. There is a serious necessity for the medical fraternity to generate psycho-social and clinico-epidemiological correlations between coronavirus disease and SRHR outcomes. The article reviews the hidden impact of coronavirus pandemic on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women, particularly in India.