Autocuidado para prevenção de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis entre homens: revisão integrativa

Abstract

Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) represent one of the greatest current challenges for public health, especially among the male population, which has historically been resistant to adopting self-care practices. Sociocultural, behavioral, and psychosocial factors, combined with the social construction of masculinity, contribute to health neglect and the worsening of preventable clinical conditions. To analyze, through an integrative literature review, the available scientific evidence on male self-care as a strategy for preventing NCDs. This is an integrative literature review, conducted between April and June 2025, in the LILACS, SciELO, and BDENF databases. The controlled descriptors used were: “self-care”, “men”, “chronic noncommunicable diseases” and “nursing”, combined by Boolean operators. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 scientific articles published between 2015 and 2025, with a qualitative or quantitative approach, in Portuguese, were selected. Studies have shown that men have low adherence to self-care and prevention actions, influenced by cultural stigmas, low perception of risk and difficulties in accessing health services. The most frequent barriers were a sedentary lifestyle, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, poor diet and resistance to seeking professional help. On the other hand, health education, when carried out using accessible language, participatory strategies and sensitivity to the sociocultural context, has proven effective in promoting male autonomy. The work of nursing, especially in primary care, has been highlighted as fundamental in building bonds, developing personalized care plans and deconstructing stereotypes that hinder prevention. Promoting self-care among men requires interventions that consider not only clinical factors, but also cultural and social determinants. Health education and nursing work emerge as strategic tools to expand access, encourage preventive practices and reduce the impacts of NCDs on the male population. Strengthening public policies aimed at men's health is essential to transform care into a continuous and effective process