Gender Dimensions of self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Nigeria

About: Healthcare systems provide services to about 50% of the world’s population. Promoting self-care is, therefore, critical for achieving Universal Health Coverage. Self-care has assumed increasing significance with the growth of mobile technologies. M-health and its intersection with the formal health system are generating new and innovative ways of providing self-care. In this chapter, the authors focus on the gender dimensions of self-care to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights. Qualitative research was undertaken in Nigeria on high school students and college graduates (married and unmarried) to study their motivations for using self-care and their attitudes, practices, and experiences with self-care. The authors analyze the gender differences in their attitudes, practices, and experiences with self-care technologies such as oral contraceptives and self-injectables for family planning, mifepristone for abortion, and pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. Specific challenges encountered due to the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed. The authors conclude that self-care interventions must be systematically implemented to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people. Read more>>>