Self-care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote their health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker. Self-care interventions are tools that support self-care, such as medicines, counselling, diagnostics and digital technologies that can be accessed fully or partially outside of formal health services.
Self-care interventions are not only convenient and cost-effective but also empowering and beneficial for health and well-being. They can help people take charge of their health, especially in situations where access to health services is limited or challenging. They can also complement and enhance the quality and efficiency of health systems, by reducing unnecessary visits, improving treatment adherence, and increasing patient satisfaction.
In this blog post, we will explore some examples of self-care interventions for health, and how they can contribute to achieving universal health coverage, promoting health, keeping the world safe, and serving the vulnerable.
Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are essential for human dignity, well-being and development. However, millions of people around the world still face barriers to accessing SRHR services, such as stigma, discrimination, lack of information, availability, affordability and quality.
Self-care interventions can help overcome some of these barriers, by providing people with more choices and options for SRHR services, and by enabling them to access them in a safe, confidential and convenient manner. Some examples of self-care interventions for SRHR include:
- Over-the-counter availability of some contraceptive products, such as pills, patches, rings, injections and implants, that can be used without a prescription or a health worker.
- Self-injectable contraception, such as Sayana Press, can be administered by the user or by a trained community health worker.
- Pregnancy tests, that can be used at home to confirm or rule out pregnancy.
- Condoms and lubricants, that can prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies.
- HPV and STI self-sampling can allow people to collect their samples and send them to a laboratory for testing, or use a rapid diagnostic test at home.
- HIV self-testing can enable people to know their HIV status privately and conveniently and link them to prevention, treatment, and care services.
- Self-management of medical abortion can allow people to safely terminate an unwanted pregnancy at home, with or without the support of a health worker.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-care interventions for SRHR can advance universal health coverage, by expanding the availability, accessibility, acceptability and affordability of SRHR services. They can also promote health, by empowering people to make informed decisions about their SRHR, and by reducing the burden of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal mortality and morbidity, and STIs, including HIV. They can also keep the world safe, by preventing the spread of STIs and HIV, and by reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance. They can also serve the vulnerable, by reaching marginalized and underserved populations, such as adolescents, women, key populations, people living with HIV, and people in humanitarian settings.
Self-care interventions for chronic diseases
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. They are largely preventable and manageable, but require long-term care and follow-up. However, many people with chronic diseases do not have access to adequate and affordable health services, or face difficulties in adhering to their treatment and lifestyle changes.
Self-care interventions can help improve the prevention and management of chronic diseases, by enabling people to monitor their own health, adhere to their treatment, and adopt healthy behaviours. Some examples of self-care interventions for chronic diseases include:
- Self-monitoring of blood pressure and blood glucose can allow people to measure their own blood pressure and blood sugar levels at home, and adjust their medication and lifestyle accordingly.
- Self-management education and support can provide people with information, skills, and confidence to manage their health, cope with their condition, and communicate with their health providers.
- Digital health technologies, such as mobile applications, telemedicine, and wearable devices, that can facilitate self-care, by providing reminders, feedback, guidance, and support to people with chronic diseases, and by connecting them to health workers and peer networks.
- Over-the-counter availability of some medicines, such as aspirin, statins, and inhalers, that can be used without a prescription or a health worker, to prevent or treat chronic diseases.
- Lifestyle interventions, such as physical activity, healthy diet, tobacco cessation, and stress management, that can reduce the risk factors and complications of chronic diseases.
According to the WHO, self-care interventions for chronic diseases can reduce mortality and morbidity, and improve health and well-being, by enhancing the quality and effectiveness of care, and by empowering people to take an active role in their own health. They can also reduce health costs, by preventing hospitalizations, complications, and disability, and by optimizing the use of health resources and personnel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the benefits of self-care interventions for health?
Self-care interventions for health can have multiple benefits, such as:
- Providing more choices and options for health services, especially for people who face barriers to accessing formal health services, or who prefer to use self-care interventions.
- Improving the convenience, confidentiality, and comfort of health services, by allowing people to access them at their own time, place, and pace.
- Empowering people to take charge of their own health, by enhancing their knowledge, skills, confidence, and autonomy.
- Improving the quality and efficiency of health systems, by reducing unnecessary visits, improving adherence to treatment, and increasing patient satisfaction.
- Advancing universal health coverage, by expanding the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and affordability of health services.
- Promoting health, by preventing and managing diseases, and improving health and well-being.
- Keeping the world safe, by preventing the spread of infections, and reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance.
- Serving the vulnerable, by reaching marginalized and underserved populations, such as adolescents, women, key populations, people living with HIV, and people in humanitarian settings.
What are the challenges and limitations of self-care interventions for health?
Self-care interventions for health are not without challenges and limitations, such as:
- Ensuring the quality, safety, and effectiveness of self-care interventions, by regulating and monitoring their production, distribution, and use, and by providing clear and accurate information and instructions to users.
- Ensuring the equity and accessibility of self-care interventions, by addressing the social, economic, and cultural barriers that may prevent some people from accessing or using them, and by providing subsidies or waivers for those who cannot afford them.
- Ensuring the integration and coordination of self-care interventions with formal health services, by establishing referral and linkage mechanisms, and by ensuring the continuity and comprehensiveness of care.
- Ensuring the respect and protection of human rights, by ensuring the informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, and autonomy of users, and by preventing any coercion, discrimination, or abuse.
- Ensuring the involvement and engagement of stakeholders, such as health workers, policy-makers, civil society, and communities, in the development, implementation, and evaluation of self-care interventions, and by addressing any concerns or resistance they may have.
How can I access and use self-care interventions for health?
The availability and accessibility of self-care interventions for health may vary depending on the country, setting, and context. Some self-care interventions may be available over-the-counter, online, or through community-based outlets, while others may require a prescription, a consultation, or a referral from a health worker. Some self-care interventions may be free of charge, subsidized, or covered by insurance, while others may require out-of-pocket payment.
Before accessing and using any self-care intervention, it is important to:
- Seek reliable and accurate information about the self-care intervention, such as its benefits, risks, side effects, contraindications, and instructions for use.
- Consult a health worker if you have any doubts, questions, or concerns about the self-care intervention, or if you have any medical condition or history that may affect its use.
- Follow the instructions and recommendations for the self-care intervention, and use it correctly and consistently.
- Monitor your health and well-being, and seek medical attention if you experience any adverse effects, complications, or symptoms that may indicate a problem.
- Keep a record of your self-care intervention, and share it with your health provider if needed, or if you seek further care or follow-up.
Where can I find more information and resources about self-care interventions for health?
For more information and resources about self-care interventions for health, you can visit the following websites:
- WHO Self-care Interventions for health: This website provides an overview of self-care interventions for health, and links to various publications, databases, tools, and technical work by the WHO.
- WHO Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights: This website provides an overview of self-care interventions for SRHR, and links to various publications, databases, tools, and technical work by the WHO.
- Self-Care Trailblazers Group: This website is a global coalition of organizations and individuals working to advance self-care for SRHR, and provides various resources, news, events, and opportunities related to self-care for SRHR.
- Self-Care Academy: This website is a global platform for learning and sharing knowledge and skills on self-care for SRHR, and offers various courses, webinars, podcasts, and resources on self-care for SRHR.
- Self-Care Initiative: This website is a global initiative to promote and support self-care for chronic diseases, and provides various resources, news, events, and opportunities related to self-care for chronic diseases.
- Self-Care Forum: This website is a UK-based organization that aims to further the reach of self-care and embed it into everyday life, and provides various resources, factsheets, tools, and events on self-care for various health conditions.
Conclusion
Self-care interventions for health are tools that support self-care, such as medicines, counselling, diagnostics and digital technologies that can be accessed fully or partially outside of formal health services. Self-care interventions can have multiple benefits for individuals, families, communities, and health systems, such as providing more choices and options, improving convenience and confidentiality, empowering people to take charge of their own health, improving the quality and efficiency of health services, advancing universal health coverage, promoting health, keeping the world safe, and serving the vulnerable. Self-care interventions can also have some challenges and limitations, such as ensuring quality, safety, effectiveness, equity, accessibility, integration, coordination, human rights, and stakeholder involvement. Self-care interventions are available and accessible in various ways, depending on the country, setting, and context, and require reliable and accurate information, consultation, and follow-up. Self-care interventions are not a substitute for formal health services, but a complement and an enhancement of them. Self-care interventions are part of a holistic and comprehensive approach to health and well-being, that recognizes the role and potential of individuals, families, and communities in promoting and maintaining their own health.
We hope that this blog post has provided you with some useful and interesting information and resources about self-care interventions for health. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please feel free to share them with us. Thank you for reading, and stay healthy and happy! 😊
By
Venita Adams
