Birth Control Use and Access Including Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraception Services during COVID-19.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare services, including access to reproductive health resources.
• Contraception access and utilization were affected, prompting investigations into alternative service delivery models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth control use and access.
• To evaluate women's perceptions and acceptance of pharmacist-prescribed birth control.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 147 women aged 18-45 through 31 Michigan community pharmacies and online platforms.
• The survey assessed birth control usage, access challenges, and opinions on pharmacist-prescribed contraception.

Main Results:

• 25% of birth control users reported concerns about access, and 27% experienced difficulties with regular use.
• 50% of respondents expressed likelihood to use pharmacist-prescribed birth control, citing convenience and improved access.
• Key concerns included the lack of Papanicolaou (PAP) smears and screenings (61%), despite high confidence (72%) in pharmacists.

Conclusions:

• Pharmacist-prescribed birth control is perceived as a viable solution to address pandemic-related access issues.
• This model demonstrates potential for increasing contraception accessibility and preventing unintended pregnancies.
• Addressing screening concerns is crucial for broader adoption of pharmacist-prescribed contraception.