According to data released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners, it has been predicted that 47 million women in low and middle-income countries would be unable to use modern contraceptives, owing to the lockdowns and major disruptions to health services during the Covid-19 pandemic, which could lead to seven million unintended pregnancies in the coming months.
“This new data shows the catastrophic impact that COVID-19 could soon have on women and girls globally. The pandemic is deepening inequalities, and millions more women and girls now risk losing the ability to plan their families and protect their bodies and their health," said Dr Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director.
“Women’s reproductive health and rights must be safeguarded at all costs,” she further added.
The research was conducted by UNFPA, in collaboration with Avenir Health, Johns Hopkins University in the United States, and Victoria University in Australia. The research is also predicting 31 million additional cases of gender-based violence during the same period, with a further 15 million more cases expected for every three months the lockdowns continue.
