How Telemedicine Affects Reproductive Healthcare
By Margaret Gaw
As individuals limit in-person interactions during Covid-19, digital health services have filled in gaps in healthcare delivery. Even before the pandemic, telemedicine was used to connect with patients in rural areas with distant telehealth services.
For the delivery of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services and support, digital features have been shown to improve the uptake of testing for STIs via online testing and remove barriers to care such as geographical and financial obstacles with transportation. Other digital advancements - including the ability of individuals to order the oral contraceptive pill online - may widen access to birth control.
However, health practitioners have become aware of the risks related to telemedicine, including the added barrier of access to technology, the internet, and technological literacy. Telemedicine may lead to invasion into a patient’s personal spaces — for instance, interventions related to medication for HIV patients may inadvertently disclose their status. For women in abusive situations, abusive partners may control their technology use and limit access to care.
One case study conducted by Dr. Vimee Bindra et. al followed an OB/GYN in Hyderabad, India who completed 375 online consultations over 65 days. Amidst delayed access to healthcare during the pandemic, especially for pregnant women, telemedicine has been an extremely beneficial way for healthcare providers to do consultations without putting patients at risk of exposure. In-person visits were strongly recommended and carried out for high risks cases and women with extenuating or emergency medical issues.
More robust studies and data are needed to evaluate the efficiency of telemedicine related to sexual and reproductive services including how telemedicine may lead to the lack of connection with providers, limits of care, reimbursements issues, or language barriers that could be obstacles to engagement in telemedicine.
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