Self-care is a behavior that is influenced by various social, structural, interpersonal, and individual factors. Social and behavior change (SBC) approaches are central to advancing self-care efforts given their ability to address the inherent social and behavioral elements of self-care.

The “Using Social and Behavior Change to Strengthen Self-Care for Sexual and Reproductive Health” technical brief outlines how SBC can contribute to self-care efforts. Specifically, the brief describes how self-care practitioners can utilize proven and emergent SBC approaches to avoid or address the following pressing challenges to sexual and reproductive health self-care interventions:

  • Understanding the needs of people using sexual and reproductive health self-care products
  • Engaging providers
  • Cultivating community support for self-care
  • Defining and promoting quality in a crowded market
  • Helping those who are practicing self-care to access services as needed

The technical brief complements Supporting Sexual and Reproductive Self-Care through Social and Behavior Change: A Conceptual Framework.