Progress and Potential of Self-Care: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead

The momentum around self-care is building through an array of self-care practices, policies, and interventions worldwide. This report aims to take stock of the SRH self-care field and document its progress. It is intended to provide a resource for global and national advocacy, to inform implementation of self-care guidelines, and to link the reader to evidence and learning exchanges. It includes case examples describing the process of introducing and scaling up DMPA-SC self-injection in Malawi and Nigeria.

This resource aims to set a global standard for the measurement of three priority self-care interventions: self-injectable contraception, HIV self-testing, and self-managed abortion. The measurement tool comprises a set of priority indicators for each intervention. It was developed through a consensus-driven process led by the Self-Care Trailblazer Group’s evaluation learning working group, engaging global experts, including academics, implementers, donors, and intergovernmental organizations.

This conceptual framework articulates how social and behavior change can support sexual and reproductive health (SRH) self-care  initiatives and contribute to improved health outcomes. Developed by Breakthrough Action and the Self-Care Trailblazer Group, the framework is designed for use by policymakers and government representatives, donors, and self-care program implementers. The framework was also featured in a webinar held on September 28, 2022.