Study on Gender Equality as an extension of the impact of COVID-19 study in three states of India

Over a few decades, approaches to enhancing Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) as a human right of the citizens have gained more traction. A broader set of approaches have been adopted to address the SRH within the country. However, the emergence of the global pandemic-COVID-19 has thwarted the attempts to improve the landscape of SRH and its institutional setting across the country. Outbreaks similar to COVID-19 have been known to have grievously affected SRH services resulting in outcomes such as miscarriages, maternal death and other pregnancy-related issues. As stated in a formal note by UNFPA, for every 3-month lockdown, in cases of high levels of disruptions, up to two million additional women may be unable to access modern contraceptives (UNFPA 2021). In the Indian context, it is estimated that as much as access to 1.85 million abortions might have been compromised in the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic as there was an absolute shut down of many services- providing agencies despite declaring SRH services as essential (IDF 2021). Access to hospitals, chemists, and pharmacies has been drastically reduced, more so, for women from rural settings.