The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected access to and the delivery of health care services, including contraceptive service2s. Despite the need for adequate and timely pandemic response, maintaining the safe and effective delivery of contraceptive services remains essential. This issue brief highlights findings from interviews conducted with 45 staff and providers at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Health Department clinics, in South Carolina and Alabama, to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on contraceptive services in their clinics. The brief focuses on the following indicators: Overall Patient Volume, Contraceptive Care Patient Volume, Contraceptive Service Provision, Staffing Capacity, Medical Supplies, and Perceptions of Long-Term Impact.

The Choose Well initiative aims to improve contraceptive access at partnered Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in South Carolina. We conducted key informant interviews with FQHC clinical and administrative staff (N= 45) to assess progress in achieving this aim during the first two years of program implementation (2017 and 2018). The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed for emerging themes. Respondents highlighted facilitators of contraceptive access during Choose Well including: enhanced contraceptive counseling, funding for implants and IUDs, the availability of same-day implant and IUD placement procedures, and increased patients enrolling in Medicaid.

In the initial two years of the Choose Well initiative, partnered South Carolina Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) clinics reported that efforts directed toward expanding workforce capacity positively impacted contraceptive service provision and patient access. We conducted key informant interviews with FQHC clinical and administrative staff (N= 45) to assess progress in achieving this aim during the first two years of program implementation (2017 and 2018). Several respondents highlighted how funding to expand clinic workforce directly increased capacity for contraceptive provision. Other key findings supporting contraceptive provision noted that funding allowed enhanced hiring practices due to expanded service lines, increased quality of patient care, and opportunity to further service provision expansion. In conjunction, several respondents emphasized the initiative's reproductive health trainings led to improved quality of patient care services, workflow performance, and capacity for patient counseling.

This report summarizes key findings related to the evaluation of the Choose Well Initiative at the mid-point. Results are not complete but provide a brief summary of key findings and evidence to date.

State-wide clinic survey findings from Federally Qualified Health Center and Department of Health and Environmental Control family planning clinics in South Carolina. Findings include: contraceptive patient characteristics, contraceptive method provision, clinic policies and practices, and other markers of contraceptive care.

State-wide clinic survey findings from Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) family planning clinics in Alabama. Findings include: contraceptive patient characteristics, contraceptive method provision, clinic policies and practices, and other markers of contraceptive care.

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