This project seeks to understand the impact of the COVID pandemic on young women with disabilities, their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) rights and needs, access to SRH commodities and services over time – before and during different lockdown levels. It will also identify good practice examples and increase awareness of women with disabilities’ SRHR needs during a national crisis.
SAMRC will conduct a retrospective longitudinal study with a group of young women with different types of disabilities and complement this with other qualitative and quantitative data to collect information on the participants living conditions; COVID-19 experiences; mental health; SRHR needs; access to services and commodities; exposure to violence, including IPV; and how these changed over time. Building on existing partnerships, SAMRC will build a coalition including government, research and cvil society partners to identify challenges, good practice examples, and policy opportunities to raise awareness for the SRHR needs of women with disabilities during crisis management and to provide a platform for young women with disabilities to share their SRHR needs with government.