Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health : a strategic health systems investment
(2025) In BMJ Global Health 10(Suppl 6).- Abstract
Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including HIV self-testing, self-injected contraception and self-managed abortion, offer promising pathways to advance universal health coverage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While often framed as cost-saving measures, this paper argues that self-care should be understood as a strategic investment in health system performance. Drawing on costing and financing analyses and previous literature, we explore how self-care interventions can enhance efficiency, resilience and equity of health systems. We propose a costing framework that outlines cost components across development, implementation and scale-up, emphasising both system and individual-level... (More)
Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including HIV self-testing, self-injected contraception and self-managed abortion, offer promising pathways to advance universal health coverage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While often framed as cost-saving measures, this paper argues that self-care should be understood as a strategic investment in health system performance. Drawing on costing and financing analyses and previous literature, we explore how self-care interventions can enhance efficiency, resilience and equity of health systems. We propose a costing framework that outlines cost components across development, implementation and scale-up, emphasising both system and individual-level considerations. We argue that sustainable scale-up of self-care requires diversified financing models, including tax-based funding, insurance mechanisms and reduced out-of-pocket costs for users. Successful integration also demands governance structures that prioritise quality, equity and continuity of care. By reframing self-care as a health system investment rather than a cost-containment tool, policymakers can better harness its potential to improve access, reduce burden on facilities and empower individuals in managing their health. Self-care interventions for SRH, when embedded within broader health system strengthening efforts, have the potential to be transformative for SRH outcomes and for progressing towards universal health coverage.
(Less)
- author
- Sundewall, Jesper LU ; Williams, Andrea ; Strauss, Michael and George, Gavin LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-08
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Health services research, Health systems, Universal Health Care
- in
- BMJ Global Health
- volume
- 10
- issue
- Suppl 6
- article number
- e019030
- publisher
- BMJ Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105014533857
- pmid:40866081
- ISSN
- 2059-7908
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019030
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 05d9f328-bd42-4091-bb61-2ffed678236d
- date added to LUP
- 2025-10-20 14:35:27
- date last changed
- 2025-11-17 16:37:20
@article{05d9f328-bd42-4091-bb61-2ffed678236d,
abstract = {{<p>Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including HIV self-testing, self-injected contraception and self-managed abortion, offer promising pathways to advance universal health coverage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While often framed as cost-saving measures, this paper argues that self-care should be understood as a strategic investment in health system performance. Drawing on costing and financing analyses and previous literature, we explore how self-care interventions can enhance efficiency, resilience and equity of health systems. We propose a costing framework that outlines cost components across development, implementation and scale-up, emphasising both system and individual-level considerations. We argue that sustainable scale-up of self-care requires diversified financing models, including tax-based funding, insurance mechanisms and reduced out-of-pocket costs for users. Successful integration also demands governance structures that prioritise quality, equity and continuity of care. By reframing self-care as a health system investment rather than a cost-containment tool, policymakers can better harness its potential to improve access, reduce burden on facilities and empower individuals in managing their health. Self-care interventions for SRH, when embedded within broader health system strengthening efforts, have the potential to be transformative for SRH outcomes and for progressing towards universal health coverage.</p>}},
author = {{Sundewall, Jesper and Williams, Andrea and Strauss, Michael and George, Gavin}},
issn = {{2059-7908}},
keywords = {{Health services research; Health systems; Universal Health Care}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{Suppl 6}},
publisher = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
series = {{BMJ Global Health}},
title = {{Self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health : a strategic health systems investment}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019030}},
doi = {{10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019030}},
volume = {{10}},
year = {{2025}},
}