RSU Conference on the Effects of COVID-19 on Sexual and Reproductive Health
According to the findings of the I-SHARE survey conducted by the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Institute of Public Health, COVID-19 has had a great impact on the health of pregnant women, HIV-infected persons and women who have suffered from different types of violence. The survey was implemented within the framework of the national research programme. The findings of the survey were discussed in detail during the scientific conference Effects of COVID-19 on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Latvia - Results, Conclusions and Recommendations. The conference was held on 27 November, and anyone interested was welcome to join the conference via Zoom.
The survey was available both in Latvian and English and 1,173 respondents participated. Professor Gunta Lazdāne, Director of the RSU Institute of Public Health, explains that alongside the collection of quantitative data in-depth interviews and discussions with various targeted focus groups were also conducted. The I-SHARE research project took place simultaneously in 33 countries, thus representing all regions across the world and diverse levels of income. I-SHARE is coordinated by the international research platform ANSER, which is based at Ghent University in Belgium, and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In Latvia the survey was conducted within the framework of the large-scale project of the national research programme for the mitigation of the consequences of COVID-19: Impact of COVID-19 on health care system and public health in Latvia; ways in preparing health sector for future epidemics.
The conference was opened by a presentation on sexual and reproductive health around the world during COVID-19, which was given by an expert in public health - Professor Kristien Michelsen from Ghent University, thus emphasising the project’s international scope. Later on, obstetrician and gynaecologist Ieva Briedīte analysed the impact of the pandemic on couples, sexual behaviour and sexual violence, and medical resident Elizabete Pumpure talked about contraception and maternal health care. Solvita Olsena, a Professor at the University of Latvia and an expert in Law in Medicine addressed legal issues affecting the healthcare system whilst ensuring sexual and reproductive healthcare during the pandemic. At the end of the conference, RSU Prof. Dace Rezeberga considered the lessons to be learned from the experience so far, and the project’s Manager, Asst. Prof. Anda Ķīvīte-Urtāne, outlined what steps should be taken next in the final stages of the project.
Anyone interested was welcome to attend by registering their attendance on the RSU website.
