The self-care situation analysis of reproductive-aged women in Tehran: a survey study.

The framework for integrated, people-centered health services was introduced in 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO) (World Health Organization, Interim report: placing people and communities at the Centre of health services: WHO global strategy on integrated peoplecentred health services 2016-2026: executive summary, 2015). A people-centered approach supports health literacy so that people can take responsibility for their health with evidence-based self-care interventions. When people have agency and autonomy, they can make and enact decisions in all aspects of their lives, including health (World Health Organization, WHO consolidated guideline on self-care interventions for health: sexual and reproductive health and rights: executive summary, 2019). The WHO defines self-care as "the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider". Self-care allows people to become agents of their health, leading to improved outcomes, especially in the area of sexual and reproductive health where stigma may prevent them from seeking care. Women and girls can identify their own health needs, and effectively manage their health conditions through self-care approaches. The WHO places great emphasis on promoting self-care, especially in women's reproductive-sexual health, and encourages countries to design and implement their programs. Given the diversity of women's self-care needs, this study designed women's self-care assessment tools in two reproductive age groups in 4 dimensions including physical, psychosocial, sexual-reproductive health, and screening tests, based on a review of the valid international guidelines. The results showed that women are practicing only half of self-care and the main challenges were in psychosocial health and sexual-reproductive-health self-care in Tehran. It seems that evidence-based planning is necessary to promote self-care among reproductive-aged women.