Men's Access to Medical and Preventive Care in Almaty: A Cross-Sectional Study by Occupation

This study aimed to assess men's health awareness, attitudes, and use of primary health care (PHC) services in Almaty across occupational groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted among men aged 18 and older, recruited from four occupational groups: office employees and civil servants, military personnel, industrial and service workers, and unskilled laborers. The results showed that men often pay insufficient attention to their health, with clear disparities across occupational groups. Men in unskilled professions demonstrated the riskiest health behaviors, including earlier initiation of smoking and alcohol consumption, more frequent drinking (two to three times per week, p = .005), and lower physical activity (p = .004). This group also showed lower health literacy and lower trust in the health care system, while visiting public polyclinics more frequently (38.6% visited three to five times per year, p = .005), likely for acute conditions rather than preventive care. At the same time, 72.6% of office workers reported significant gaps in knowledge about chronic diseases and self-management skills, despite their higher educational level. Logistic regression analysis identified satisfaction with care quality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.27), adherence to doctors' recommendations (AOR = 3.24), and regular visits to private clinics (odds ratio [OR] = 2.86) as the most stable predictors of health care engagement. These findings suggest that PHC services in Almaty should better respond to the needs of men working in different occupational contexts. Improving health literacy, addressing structural and behavioral barriers, and implementing workplace-based health interventions may help encourage earlier and more consistent use of preventive services.