LAUSR

Among the most promising and exciting new approaches to reach Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals are self-care interventions for health. These interventions have the potential to increase choice, when accessible and affordable, as well as opportunities for individuals to make informed decisions regarding their health and health care. Self-care interventions recognize the strengths of individuals as active agents in their health, and not merely passive recipients of health services. To support WHO normative guideline on innovative self-care strategies for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), a conceptual framework was developed and the evidence base was evaluated on interventions in transition from provision by facility-based, healthcare providers to delivery in the self-care environment, including STI and HPV self-sampling. While further research is needed on user understanding, uptake and access, our reviews suggest that STI and HPV self-sampling are effective strategies to increase STI and HPV testing uptake respectively. Challenge remain, however, for vulnerable, marginalized and socioeconomically underprivileged populations, who have the poorest health outcomes globally, to access quality health innovations, including self-care interventions. The WHO guideline on self-care interventions for SRHR is framed around key principles of human rights, gender equality and a holistic, people-centred approach to health and well-being. The potential benefits of such an approach includes the creation of a safe and supportive enabling environment which can potentially increase health coverage, access and quality of services; and thereby reduce health inequities. There is already widespread and rapidly growing use of self-care interventions. When these interventions are people-centred, and evidence-driven, even vulnerable populations will be able to exercise their rights to health, to information, to autonomous decision-making. Disclosure No significant relationships.