Self-care empowers individuals, families, and communities to manage their own health, prevent diseases, and cope with illness, either independently or with minimal support from healthcare professionals. It includes practices such as the use of medicines, devices, diagnostics, and digital tools. Regular self-care actions—like lifestyle choices and habits—play a significant role in maintaining health.

One notable self-care intervention is the self-sampling of human papillomavirus (HPV) for cervical cancer screening. Another is the use of male and female condoms, which are highly effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Providing non-judgmental, person-centered information is crucial to support condom use.

For individuals with chronic conditions, self-monitoring is essential. Self-monitoring of blood glucose is critical for diabetes management, while self-monitoring of blood pressure is effective for managing hypertension. Appropriate self-care can also reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with alcohol, substance, and tobacco abuse. Regular physical activity, another form of self-care, can prevent an estimated 3.9 million premature deaths annually.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines self-care as the ability of individuals, families, and communities to maintain health, prevent disease, and cope with illness with or without professional support. It emphasizes individuals as active agents in their healthcare, encompassing health promotion, disease prevention, self-management, caregiving, and rehabilitation, including palliative care. Self-care supplements the healthcare system, providing additional options and choices.

Scope and Challenges

Every year, 100 million people are pushed into poverty due to healthcare expenses. Marginalized populations often lack access to quality healthcare and face discrimination. Innovative strategies are needed to address these challenges and provide accessible healthcare.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the crucial role of self-care in disease prevention and health promotion. Personal actions like wearing masks and physical distancing, along with national-level prioritization of self-care interventions, were vital in mitigating the pandemic's impact. Quality, cost-effective self-care interventions, such as accurate diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2, were essential in the comprehensive response to COVID-19. Promoting emotional resilience through self-care was also crucial for the well-being of healthcare workers.

However, challenges exist in promoting self-care interventions. It is essential to ensure these interventions are evidence-based and safe. Unregulated products, incorrect information, and lack of access to healthcare workers for guidance pose significant risks. Ensuring products are available and affordable is another challenge. Creating an enabling environment for safe and appropriate self-care interventions requires collaboration across various sectors, including education, justice, and social services.

Self-Care as a Healthcare Complement

Self-care interventions can enhance universal health coverage, reach people in humanitarian situations, and improve overall health and well-being. WHO's framework on self-care interventions integrates people-centered and health systems approaches, grounded in human rights, ethics, and gender equality.

Digital platforms and technologies can expand the reach of self-care interventions, and incorporating self-care into health worker education is crucial for widespread adoption. Health literacy, including digital literacy, is fundamental for individuals to effectively engage in self-care.

During health emergencies that disrupt normal healthcare services, self-care interventions offer an important alternative to facility-based care. WHO supports self-care interventions as part of a holistic approach to health, considering individuals' circumstances, needs, and environments.

WHO's guidelines and framework on self-care interventions advocate for innovative approaches to strengthen primary healthcare, accelerate universal health coverage, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. These guidelines are adaptable to various settings, considering local economic conditions, existing health services, and the needs of underserved populations.

Self-care remains a vital component in the evolving landscape of global healthcare, offering individuals more control over their health and contributing to better health outcomes worldwide.