Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19):
Self-care interventions for sexual
and reproductive health and rights
(SRHR)
Q&A

What is self care?
WHO’s definition of self care is the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker.



What are self-care interventions?
Self-care interventions recommended by WHO are evidence-based and can include information about a sexual or reproductive health issue as well as ways in which individuals can obtain drugs, devices, diagnostics and/or digital products fully or partially separate from formal health services that can be used with or without the direct supervision of a health worker.
For example, self-injectable contraception, HPV self-sampling kits or HIV self-tests.



Why are self-care interventions important during a pandemic like COVID-19?
With the major disruptions to the normal functioning of national health systems caused by the need to respond to people who have or are affected by the virus, evidence-based, high-quality self-care interventions can provide an important alternative to the usual health facility- or health worker-based services.
Self-care is a valuable part of a well-functioning health system and can be particularly useful when physical distancing measures make it more difficult for people to access their normal health care services and medications.



Do I need to see a health worker for self care actions?
Self-care interventions provide individuals, families and communities with a way to manage their own health at home.
Some self-care actions, such as washing your hands and practicing good respiratory hygiene measures that protect you from COVID-19, do not need you to meet with a health worker.
Other self-care interventions, such as obtaining a prescription for hormonal contraception and abortion medications or counselling during pregnancy, will need interaction with a health worker.
Such support can be provided in different ways during this pandemic and will depend on the healthcare arrangements in place where you live; for example, some medicines are available over-the-counter without a prescription in a pharmacy, or counseling and important information during pregnancy and when caring for a newborn can be provided over the phone or online.



What self care actions can I take to protect my sexual and reproductive health?
In 2019, WHO issued a new guideline that brought together 32 existing or new recommendations on a range of sexual and reproductive health self-care interventions.
The guideline has recommendations on pregnancy and newborn care, contraception, abortion, sexually transmitted infections including HIV and HPV, and for sexual health more broadly. The full list of recommendations



How can I get healthcare support during the COVID-19 pandemic for a self-care intervention?
There are a number of ways in which support can be provided:
Digital technologies and platforms, such as helplines through the phone or online or websites of organizations with recognized expertise may be available for consultation or follow up.
Such information sources could enable you to then proceed with obtaining and self-administering an injectable contraceptive or self-testing for HIV, for example.
It may also be possible to get over the counter medical devices, medicines, information and diagnostics through pharmacies or drug stores.
Menstrual hygiene products, pregnancy tests, condoms and emergency contraception pills are usually available over-the-counter and depending on where you live, contraceptive pills and drugs that protect you from getting HIV if you think you have been exposed to risk.
You may also be able to receive communications in a variety of ways that can help keep you healthy. Examples include notifications and reminders about taking medicines sent by SMS or email.



Is self care safe?
For all of the recommendations on self-care interventions on sexual and reproductive health issued by WHO, the evidence to date suggests that self care is safe, with the right level of support by the health service as needed.
Self-care can also benefit health workers, by allowing them to serve a greater number of patients and deploying their clinical skills where greatest need exists.
During a pandemic such as COVID-19, adopting self-care as part of the healthcare system can also reduce the exposure of health workers to infection as self-care will reduce the number of in-person contacts with a health worker.



Who is self care for?
Self care can be practiced by everyone and evidence-based self-care interventions have the potential to benefit even the most vulnerable populations.
For individuals who may need to access information, counselling or a health services before, during or after accessing a self-care intervention, links with existing health services remains important.
Examples of providing access to referrals and health facilities for non-COVID-19 related SRH conditions may include ensuring antenatal care visits, delivery and postpartum care; retesting and HIV treatment if an individual’s HIV self-test is positive along with other STI diagnostic and treatment as required.
In addition, crisis centers, shelters, legal aid, and protection services for individuals subject to violence.



Where can I get more information?
Further information about self-care can be found on the WHO website:4
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General’s has emphasized that “All countries must strike a fine balance between protecting health, minimizing economic and social disruption, and respecting human rights”.
When health systems are overwhelmed, countries need to make difficult decisions to balance the demands of responding directly to COVID-19, while simultaneously engaging in strategic planning and coordinated action to maintain essential health service delivery.
The provision of many services will become more challenging.
Women’s choices and rights to sexual and reproductive health care, however, should be respected regardless of COVID-19 status.
To guide national health systems in planning for the strategic shifts needed to sustain sexual and reproductive health services while also responding to the additional demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO has published COVID-19 specific resources that complement and supplement existing resources in this field.

Source:
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-self-care-interventions-for-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights