About this Research Topic
The Coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating pre-existing global problems related to reproductive and sexual health (SRH) provision in a world where 1.7 million people became infected with HIV in 2019, while 25.4 million people receive antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDS, 270 million women had an unmet need for a modern contraceptive method and 810 women died per day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth in 2017. The routine sexual and reproductive (SRH) service delivery is being severely disrupted as the health systems are overloaded with COVID cases, as the diagnosis and treatment of COVID has become a priority globally.
Practicing self-isolation and even curfew for the prevention of COVID spread makes it difficult for individuals to access medical information and SRH services, including family planning, safe abortion, STI/HIV management, cervical cancer care, and antenatal and postnatal clinics. The pandemic has also been shown to increase gender-based violence and domestic abuse. In order to ensure continued access to SRH services delivery and secure sexual and reproductive health rights, technology-enhanced healthcare delivery systems should be developed and improved. The use of virtual patient consultations, self-assessment smartphone applications, hotlines and remote provision of medications are a few examples of telehealth and telemedicine applications used for improvement of women’s SRH.
The Research Topic aims to gather contributions about the currently used telehealth applications in this area, and new inventions that will enable clinicians to connect with people who need access in the era of the pandemic and beyond. This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Policy and Practice Reviews, Community Case Studies, and Study Protocols.
Topic Editor Fatih Durmuşoǧlu is running a clinical study sponsored by Exeltis Women's Health. All other Guest Editors declare no conflicts of interest.
Please note that Frontiers also offers a Fee Support Program, available to any authors seeking financial support. If you would like any further information about this, please get in touch with the Editorial Office at globalwomenshealth@frontiersin.org.
Practicing self-isolation and even curfew for the prevention of COVID spread makes it difficult for individuals to access medical information and SRH services, including family planning, safe abortion, STI/HIV management, cervical cancer care, and antenatal and postnatal clinics. The pandemic has also been shown to increase gender-based violence and domestic abuse. In order to ensure continued access to SRH services delivery and secure sexual and reproductive health rights, technology-enhanced healthcare delivery systems should be developed and improved. The use of virtual patient consultations, self-assessment smartphone applications, hotlines and remote provision of medications are a few examples of telehealth and telemedicine applications used for improvement of women’s SRH.
The Research Topic aims to gather contributions about the currently used telehealth applications in this area, and new inventions that will enable clinicians to connect with people who need access in the era of the pandemic and beyond. This Research Topic welcomes Original Research, Reviews, Policy and Practice Reviews, Community Case Studies, and Study Protocols.
Topic Editor Fatih Durmuşoǧlu is running a clinical study sponsored by Exeltis Women's Health. All other Guest Editors declare no conflicts of interest.
Please note that Frontiers also offers a Fee Support Program, available to any authors seeking financial support. If you would like any further information about this, please get in touch with the Editorial Office at globalwomenshealth@frontiersin.org.
Keywords: sexual and reproductive health services, women's health, mHealth, contraceptive services, telehealth, telemedicine
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
