Effects of Covid19 on Utilization of Family Planning Services in Teso North Sub County Hospital Busia County

The Kenyan government put in place policies to increase uptake of family planning services with an aim of reducing the fertility rate (TFR). It was aimed at improving the gross domestic product, reduce poverty and at the same time reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Despite this, TFR in Kenya has remained high at 3.9 with some counties recording a TFR of more than 3.9. Teso north Sub County hospital despite having a Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of 39% still have a TFR of 4.7%. Since their receptions of COVID-19 pandemic, measures put by the government to curtail the viral spread, have been drastic enough to an extent that they may have influenced contraceptive uptake. This study therefore sought to find out how COVID-19 affected the uptake of family planning in Teso north Sub county hospital. The main objective of the study was to determine the effects of COVID 19 on uptake of family planning services in Teso north sub county hospital. Specific objectives were to determine Family Planning attendance during acute COVID19 and assess the utilization of family planning commodities (by method) before and during the acute COVID19 period in Teso north Sub County hospital. It was retrospective study design carried out from September 2019 to February 2020 and compared with data from March 2020 to October 2021.Measures of central tendency and dispersion were used and data analyzed using SPSS with a P value <0.05 taken to be statistical significant. The study found out that there was a drop in the number of clients seeking family planning services both women and male during covid 19. The pandemic affected utilization of family planning commodities in Teso Sub county hospital. Recommendations to service providers and policy makers were that all service providers should make active use of cellular phones and other electronic technologies for creating awareness and use of family planning services and there should be round-the-clock family planning counseling available at all service outlets in order to avoid unplanned pregnancies. National/County Government should provide patient-focused telehealth counseling for a range of contraceptive methods in a way that is respectful of individual patient needs and preferences, implement support supervision systems for monitoring service delivery, especially involving senior staff in reviewing commodity stocks and encouraging provider health through in-person or web-based engagement, campaign for policy change allowing dispensing larger packs of short-acting contraceptives to reduce facility visitation frequency and develop and disseminate clear, concise messages across various media outlets such as television scrolls, talk shows, radio, social media, and public service announcements to generate awareness and educate the public. Lastly there is need to strengthen emergency preparedness and response, utilize community structures for contraceptive delivery.