The ubiquity of ‘self-care’ in health: Why specificity matters
Despite increased interest in self-care for health, little consensus exists around its definition and scope. The World Health Organization has published several definitions of self-care, including in a 2019 Global Guideline rooted in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), later expanded t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Global Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2023.2296970 |
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| _version_ | 1846142036098416640 |
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| author | Laura Ferguson Michelle E. Anderson Krishni Satchi Alexander M. Capron Charles D. Kaplan Peter Redfield Sofia Gruskin |
| author_facet | Laura Ferguson Michelle E. Anderson Krishni Satchi Alexander M. Capron Charles D. Kaplan Peter Redfield Sofia Gruskin |
| author_sort | Laura Ferguson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite increased interest in self-care for health, little consensus exists around its definition and scope. The World Health Organization has published several definitions of self-care, including in a 2019 Global Guideline rooted in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), later expanded to encompass health more generally. To establish a robust understanding of self-care, this exploratory study inventorises, consolidates, presents and analyses definitions of self-care beyond the SRHR field. A pragmatic review identified definitions and conceptualisations of self-care from peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 2009 and 2021. The search identified 91 definitions of self-care from 116 relevant publications. Data extraction informed analysis to identify recurring themes and approaches, revealing three key areas of variation: self-care being: (1) defined directly or descriptively; (2) situated within individual, interpersonal or structural contexts; (3) defined broadly or topic-specifically. A multilevel conceptualisation can guide a more broadly applicable understanding of self-care: first, as an aspect of healthcare; second, as a concept operating at individual, interpersonal and institutional levels; third, as a concept that impacts specific health fields and contexts differently. A comprehensive but adaptable framework works in service of improving health and wellbeing for all, acknowledging the linkages between self-care and health-related human rights. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3faa0db91ee5401bb704b0e4092a462f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1744-1692 1744-1706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-3faa0db91ee5401bb704b0e4092a462f2024-12-03T19:27:48ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062024-12-0119110.1080/17441692.2023.2296970The ubiquity of ‘self-care’ in health: Why specificity mattersLaura Ferguson0Michelle E. Anderson1Krishni Satchi2Alexander M. Capron3Charles D. Kaplan4Peter Redfield5Sofia Gruskin6Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USAInstitute on Inequalities in Global Health, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USAKeck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USAGould School of Law, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USADworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USADepartment of Anthropology, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USAInstitute on Inequalities in Global Health, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USADespite increased interest in self-care for health, little consensus exists around its definition and scope. The World Health Organization has published several definitions of self-care, including in a 2019 Global Guideline rooted in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), later expanded to encompass health more generally. To establish a robust understanding of self-care, this exploratory study inventorises, consolidates, presents and analyses definitions of self-care beyond the SRHR field. A pragmatic review identified definitions and conceptualisations of self-care from peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 2009 and 2021. The search identified 91 definitions of self-care from 116 relevant publications. Data extraction informed analysis to identify recurring themes and approaches, revealing three key areas of variation: self-care being: (1) defined directly or descriptively; (2) situated within individual, interpersonal or structural contexts; (3) defined broadly or topic-specifically. A multilevel conceptualisation can guide a more broadly applicable understanding of self-care: first, as an aspect of healthcare; second, as a concept operating at individual, interpersonal and institutional levels; third, as a concept that impacts specific health fields and contexts differently. A comprehensive but adaptable framework works in service of improving health and wellbeing for all, acknowledging the linkages between self-care and health-related human rights.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2023.2296970Self-carehealth careperson-centred carepatient-centred-carecommunity-based care |
| spellingShingle | Laura Ferguson Michelle E. Anderson Krishni Satchi Alexander M. Capron Charles D. Kaplan Peter Redfield Sofia Gruskin The ubiquity of ‘self-care’ in health: Why specificity matters Global Public Health Self-care health care person-centred care patient-centred-care community-based care |
| title | The ubiquity of ‘self-care’ in health: Why specificity matters |
| title_full | The ubiquity of ‘self-care’ in health: Why specificity matters |
| title_fullStr | The ubiquity of ‘self-care’ in health: Why specificity matters |
| title_full_unstemmed | The ubiquity of ‘self-care’ in health: Why specificity matters |
| title_short | The ubiquity of ‘self-care’ in health: Why specificity matters |
| title_sort | ubiquity of self care in health why specificity matters |
| topic | Self-care health care person-centred care patient-centred-care community-based care |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2023.2296970 |
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