Telehealth for Contraceptive Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a 2021 National Survey

Abstract

Objectives. To investigate trends in the use and quality of telehealth for contraceptive care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Methods. The 2021 Guttmacher Survey of Reproductive Health Experiences is a national online survey of 6211 people assigned female at birth, aged 18 to 49 years, and that ever had penile‒vaginal sex. We used weighted bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions to analyze the use of telehealth for contraceptive care and the quality of this care. Results. Of the respondents, 34% received a contraceptive service in the 6 months before the survey; of this group, 17% utilized telehealth. Respondents who were uninsured at some point in the 6 months before the survey had greater odds of using telehealth for this care. Respondents had lower odds of rating the person-centeredness of their care as “excellent” if they received services via telehealth compared with in person (25% vs 39%). Conclusions. Telehealth has helped bridge gaps in contraceptive care deepened by COVID-19. More work is needed to improve the quality of care and reduce access barriers to ensure telehealth can meet its full potential as part of a spectrum of care options. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(S5):S545–S554. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.306886 )