Creating guidelines on self-initiated interventions for sexual reproductive health and rights

The World Health Organization (WHO) invites you to participate in an online survey contributing towards the development of a normative guidance around self-initiated interventions for sexual reproductive health.

In this article, Katthyana Aparicio, Programme Officer in the Department of Service Delivery and Safety at the World Health Organization explains why WHO has commissioned a global survey to ensure that the final guidelines reflects appropriately the concerns and preferences of all patients promoting people-centered healthcare.

The World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Reproductive Health and Research (RHR) is leading the development of a normative guidance around self-initiated interventions for health. To help to ensure that the final product : ”Guidelines on self-initiated interventions for sexual reproductive health and rights” reflects appropriately the concerns and preferences of all patients and promotes a people-centred healthcare, WHO commissioned a global survey focused on self-initiated interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including HIV. Current examples include: self-injection of contraceptives; self-testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV and self-sampling of HPV; self-management of abortion; accessing information on SRHR on the internet; and self-monitoring of fertility. The work will have a particular focus on vulnerable and marginalized populations, including those living in humanitarian settings.

The needs and perspectives of patients, their families and communities are central to design programmes aiming to provide quality health services that are people-centered. Thus, the new WHO guideline will:  (1) Be grounded in a human rights-based approach that is person-centred and evidence driven;  (2) Address the needs of people across the life course from adolescence through to older ages; and  (3) Include the preferences, reasons and priorities regarding self-initiated interventions for health. 

Because patients’ voice count, we invite you to participate in this online survey which will be available until 12 September 2018. 

It will take 15 to 20 minutes to complete and participation is completely voluntary, anonymous and confidential. The survey includes questions about your experiences, preferences and access regarding self - initiated information and service interventions for SRHR.

The survey is currently being disseminated in English but is in the process of being translated into French and Spanish for further dissemination. 

Click here to take the survey. 

Your contribution is very important to make the healthcare and services more people-centered. Thank you in advance for your time!