Men's health: an overlooked inequality
1Director, Global Action on Men's Health, London, UK.
Insights
Men globally face poorer health outcomes and shorter life expectancy. Targeted, gender-sensitive health initiatives and policies are needed to address these disparities.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Men's Health
- Healthcare Disparities
Background:
- Men globally experience poorer health outcomes compared to women, evidenced by a 3.6-year shorter life expectancy in the UK (2015).
- Men exhibit higher health risk-taking behaviors and lower awareness of disease symptoms, coupled with less frequent primary care utilization.
- While some conditions show men seeking help promptly, overall primary care engagement impacts health, particularly mental health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the persistent global, regional, and national challenges in men's health.
- To underscore the need for strategic, gender-sensitive interventions and policies addressing men's health issues.
- To identify potential actions, including nursing interventions, to improve men's health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and data on men's health outcomes and healthcare-seeking behaviors.
- Analysis of the impact of reduced primary care engagement on men's health.
- Examination of the effectiveness of men's health initiatives and the absence of strategic responses.
Main Results:
- Men's health outcomes remain problematic, with significant life expectancy gaps compared to women.
- Men's lower engagement with primary care services negatively affects health outcomes, especially mental health.
- Evidence suggests gender-sensitive interventions can be effective, but a coordinated strategic response is lacking.
Conclusions:
- A strategic, national approach to men's health is absent in the UK despite the need.
- Implementing measures such as a national men's health policy, extended primary care hours, and professional training is recommended.
- Nurses and other healthcare professionals can play a crucial role in improving men's health outcomes through targeted actions.
Abstract:
Men's health outcomes are problematic globally, regionally and nationally. Male life expectancy was 3.6 years shorter than female life expectancy in the UK in 2015. Men take more risks with their health and are less likely than women to be aware of disease symptoms. They use primary care services less frequently than women, with likely impacts on health outcomes, especially for mental health, although there is evidence that for some conditions men may seek help just as quickly as women. Men's health initiatives have increased and there is growing evidence that 'gender-sensitive' interventions aimed at men can be effective. However, a strategic response, locally or nationally, to men's health problems in the UK has been absent. A number of actions, including by nurses, could make a difference. A national men's health policy, extended open hours in primary care, more outreach work and professional training, are among the measures suggested.
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