Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH)
Including the Human Reproduction Special Programme (HRP)
About

Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health

Self-care interventions are among the most promising and exciting new approaches to improve health and well-being, both from a health systems perspective and for people who use these interventions. The World Health Organization (WHO) uses the following working definition of self-care:

Self-care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.

The scope of self-care as described in this definition includes health promotion; disease prevention and control; self-medication; providing care to dependent persons; seeking hospital/specialist/primary care if necessary; and rehabilitation, including palliative care. It includes a range of self-care modes and approaches. While this is a broad definition that includes many activities, it is important for health policy to recognize the importance of self-care, especially where it intersects with health systems and health professionals. 

News

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15 July 2025
Departmental update

New digital tool to support self-monitoring of blood pressure in pregnancy
25 September 2024
Departmental update

WHO launches online learning programme to increase access to contraception via pharmacies
24 July 2024
Departmental update

WHO releases new guidance to help countries integrate self-care within health care

Publications

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Digital adaptation kit for self-monitoring of blood pressure during pregnancy: operational requirements for implementing WHO recommendations in digital systems
15 July 2025

Digital adaptation kit for self-monitoring of blood pressure during pregnancy: operational...

The Digital adaptation kit (DAK) for self-monitoring of blood pressure during pregnancy translates the WHO guidance on self-monitoring of blood pressure...
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Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights: country cases
26 September 2024

Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights: country cases

People play an essential role in managing their own sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and as caregivers. This publication looks at self-care...

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Implementation of self-care interventions for health and well-being: guidance for health systems
17 July 2024

Implementation of self-care interventions for health and well-being: guidance for health systems

Building upon the latest normative recommendations and good practice statements from the World Health Organization (WHO), this guidance includes key...

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Documents

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24 September 2025

Self-care interventions for health and well-being: Communications Toolkit 2025

24 July 2025

Value of self-care for advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights

23 April 2025

Accelerating sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) self-care interventions among underserved populations

Journal articles

2025

Logie CH, Loutet M, MacKenzie F, et al. Experiences of drought, heavy rains, and flooding and linkages with refugee youth sexual and reproductive health in a humanitarian setting in Uganda: qualitative insights. Glob Public Health. 2025;20(1):2503863. doi:10.1080/17441692.2025.2503863

Aujla M, Logie CH, Hardon A, Narasimhan M. Environmental impact of menstrual hygiene products. Bull World Health Organ. 2025;103(3):223-225. doi:10.2471/BLT.24.291421

Stapff C, Garbero LG, Ponce de León RG, Briozzo L, Lavelanet A, Narasimhan M. Self-care interventions for legal and safe abortions: lessons learned from a woman-centered approach to sexual and reproductive healthcare in Uruguay. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2025;42:100981. Published 2025 Jan 10. doi:10.1016/j.lana.2024.100981

2024

Narasimhan M, Hargreaves JR, Logie CH, et al. Self-care interventions for women's health and well-being. Nat Med. 2024;30(3):660-669. doi:10.1038/s41591-024-02844-8

2023

Narasimhan M, Duvall S, Tamrat T. Expanding people-centred primary health care with digital adaptation kits for self-care interventions. Lancet Digit Health. 2023;5(10):e643-e645. doi:10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00178-4

Narasimhan M, Logie CH, Hargreaves J, et al. Self-care interventions for advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights – implementation considerations. Journal of Global Health Reports. 2023;7:e2023034.

Gonsalves L, Kamuyango A, Chandra-Mouli V. Pharmacies: an important source of contraception for some adolescents, but not a panacea for all. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(1):2221883. doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2221883

Yeh PT, Kennedy CE, Rhee DK, et al. Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels among pregnant individuals with gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Glob Womens Health. 2023;4:1006041. Published 2023 May 24. doi:10.3389/fgwh.2023.1006041

Nguyen PY, Caddy C, Wilson AN, et al. Self-care interventions for preconception, antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care: a scoping review. BMJ Open. 2023;13(5):e068713. Published 2023 May 10. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068713

2022

Borg SA, Narasimhan M, Wuliji T. Mobile learning to support health workers in pharmacies in expanding access to over-the-counter contraceptives: The World Health Organization Academy Learning Programme. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2022;30(1):2089084. doi:10.1080/26410397.2022.2089084

Ferguson L, Narasimhan M. Centring rights-based access to self-care interventions. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2021;29(3):2138053. doi:10.1080/26410397.2022.2138053

Narasimhan, Manjulaa et al. Self-care interventions and practices as essential approaches to strengthening health-care delivery, The Lancet Global Health, Volume 11, Issue 1,2022.

Ferguson L, Narasimhan M, Gutierrez J, Jardell W, Gruskin S. Law, human rights and gender in practice: an analysis of lessons from implementation of self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2021;29(3):2105284. doi:10.1080/26410397.2022.2105284

Malama K, Logie CH, Narasimhan M, et al. Short Communication: Awareness of HIV Self-Care Interventions Across Global Regions: Results from a Values and Preferences Survey. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2022;38(8):645-648. doi:10.1089/AID.2021.0200

Ammerdorffer A, Laws M, Narasimhan M, et al. Reclassifying contraceptives as over-the-counter medicines to improve access. Bull World Health Organ. 2022;100(8):503-510. doi:10.2471/BLT.21.287561

Kennedy CE, Yeh PT, Atkins K, Ferguson L, Baggaley R, Narasimhan M. PrEP distribution in pharmacies: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2022;12(2):e054121. Published 2022 Feb 21. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054121

Kennedy CE, Yeh PT, Gholbzouri K, Narasimhan M. Self-testing for pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022;12(2):e054120. Published 2022 Feb 28. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054120

Yeh PT, Rhee DK, Kennedy CE, et al. Self-monitoring of blood pressure among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22(1):454. Published 2022 May 31. doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04751-7

Hopkins J, Narasimhan M. Access to self-care interventions can improve health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. BMJ. 2022;376:e068700. Published 2022 Mar 24. doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-068700

Kennedy CE, Yeh PT, Byrne J, et al. Self-administration of gender-affirming hormones: a systematic review of effectiveness, cost, and values and preferences of end-users and health workers. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2021;29(3):2045066. doi:10.1080/26410397.2022.2045066

 

Atkins K, Kennedy CE, Yeh PT, Narasimhan M. Over-the-counter provision of emergency contraceptive pills: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2022;12(3):e054122. Published 2022 Mar 14. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054122

Logie CH, Berry I, Ferguson L, Malama K, Donkers H, Narasimhan M. Uptake and provision of self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health: findings from a global values and preferences survey. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2021;29(3):2009104. doi:10.1080/26410397.2021.2009104

2021

King SE, Yeh PT, Rhee DK, Tuncalp Ö, Rogers LM, Narasimhan M. Self-management of iron and folic acid supplementation during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and postnatal periods: a systematic review. BMJ Glob Health. 2021;6(5):e005531. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005531

Nishimura H, Yeh PT, Oguntade H, Kennedy CE, Narasimhan M. HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening: a systematic review of values and preferences. BMJ Glob Health. 2021;6(5):e003743. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003743

Supplement Catalysing policy change to introduce and scale up self-care interventions for SRHR: Lessons from the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Health Research Policy and Systems 2021, Volume 19 Supplement 1.

Narasimhan M, Logie CH, Moody K, Hopkins J, Montoya O, Hardon A. The role of self-care interventions on men's health-seeking behaviours to advance their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Health Res Policy Syst. 2021;19(1):23. Published 2021 Feb 17. doi:10.1186/s12961-020-00655-0

2019

Supplement Self care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights, BMJ 2019; 365:1403

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Infographics

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