The introduction of self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a paradigm shift in health care delivery, bridging people and communities with primary health care services. While self-care is conceptually not new, rapid advances in evidence-based technologies and products that can be accessed outside of the formal health sector increasingly acknowledge people as active participants in their own health, both as self-carers and care-givers. Self-care interventions for SRH are diverse and include self-injection (e.g., of contraceptives), self-screening or testing (e.g., for sexually transmitted infections, or determination of pregnancy), self-management (e.g., for abortion), and self-monitoring (e.g., of fertility). Understanding the user, the health system, and the environment, is key to ensuring that self-care interventions for SRH are not only available, but safe and empowering for all.

Implementation of self-care interventions within the context of human rights, gender equality and a life course approach offer an underused opportunity to improve universal health coverage. The interventions could reduce stigma and discrimination, increase informed decision-making for health and decrease barriers to access.

This call is for papers which explore strategies for introducing and scaling-up access to self-care interventions for SRH with a specific focus on the needs and rights of vulnerable populations.

Submissions will be accepted until 31 May 2021.

The full call for papers is available here.