The United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health and well–being contains
important commitments to reducing by one third premature mortality from non–communicable
diseases (NCDs), promoting mental health and well–being, strengthening the prevention
and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of
alcohol, and halving the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
The Goal also aims to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health–care
services, including for family planning, information and education, and to improve
the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control.
All these commitments, if successfully implemented, would be particularly beneficial
to the health of men and boys across the world; equally, they cannot be optimally
realized without an approach that takes account of the specific health needs, social
contexts and the related health practices of men and boys, and perceives addressing
this area as a pathway to better well–being and equality for all. At present, such
an approach is not reflected in policy and practice.
MALE MORTALITY
WHO data shows that, globally in 2012, 52% of all deaths from NCDs were male. Males
were more likely than females to die prematurely (under 70 years) from NCDs in almost
every country (females were more likely to die prematurely from NCDs in just four
countries). The proportion of premature NCD deaths in males was twice or more that
in females in 11 countries, including Russia where 52% of male NCD deaths were premature
compared to 24% of female NCD deaths.
The major risk factors for NCDs include unhealthy diets, tobacco use and the harmful
use of alcohol. Men do worse than women in respect of all of these. Data from the
Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 shows that, in that year, 55% of deaths from dietary
risk factors were male as were 72% of deaths from tobacco smoking and 65% of deaths
from alcohol. More males than females also died from environmental factors (unimproved
water and sanitation, air pollution) and also drug use. There was a particularly large
sex difference for deaths caused by occupational risks: 88% of deaths from this cause
were male in 2010.
Males accounted for 82% of all homicide victims in 2012 and have estimated rates of
homicide that are more than four times those of females (10.8 and 2.5, respectively,
per 100 000), according to WHO data. Males were also almost twice as likely to die
by suicide as women. In high–income countries, men were three times more likely to
die by suicide.
Life expectancy data also highlights the health burden borne by men. Globally, male
life expectancy at birth, at 68 years, lags five years behind female life expectancy
and the global “gap” is predicted to increase over the next 15 years: by 2030, male
life expectancy could well be seven years shorter than female life expectancy [1].
There is not a single country where male life expectancy exceeds female and there
are currently 27 countries in the world with male life expectancy below 60.
USE OF HEALTH SERVICES
The under–utilization of primary care services by men has also been identified as
a problem in many countries. In Europe, infrequent use of, and late presentation to,
such services has been associated with men experiencing higher levels of potentially
preventable health conditions and having reduced treatment options [2]. This is particularly
the case for mental health problems. Studies in sub–Saharan Africa have reported similar
findings about men’s use of HIV services and also found that men are proportionally
less likely to test for HIV and begin treatment regimes and more likely to die while
on treatment [3–5]. Within the context of family planning, there has been little shift
globally in men’s use of contraception over the last 20 years, with the burden of
responsibility remaining firmly with women [6].
There are also significant structural barriers that inhibit men’s ability to self–care
and to access services effectively. Many primary care services are available only
at times when men are at work, for example [7]. It has been suggested that the feminine
ambience of services also deters men who in any case view health as a predominantly
female domain. Health awareness campaigns have often failed to engage men and have,
deliberately or inadvertently, been aimed primarily at women [8].
HEALTH LITERACY
Men tend to be less knowledgeable than women about specific diseases, risk factors
and health in general. A recent study of weight, diet, physical activity and nutritional
knowledge among university students in the USA found that men were more likely to
be overweight or obese, more likely to consume red meat, fast food, sugar–sweetened
beverages, wine and beer, and less likely to be knowledgeable about nutrition [9].
Other research has found that men are less likely to recognize that they are overweight
and are less well–informed about the common symptoms of cancer.
RISK–TAKING AND MASCULINITY
Men’s risk–taking behaviors and their under–use of health services are in large part
linked to male role norms. These norms vary according to social and cultural contexts
but also appear consistent across many countries in terms of health behaviors. In
rural India, for example men’s use of tobacco is closely linked to their perception
that a “real man” should be daring, courageous and confident and able to demonstrate
his manliness by smoking [10]. A study of men in Russia suggested that heavy drinking
of strong spirits “elevates or maintains a man’s status in working–class social groups
by facilitating access to power associated with the hegemonic ideal of the real working
man” [11]. Evidence shows that promoting positive models of manhood, such as caring
and involved fatherhood, while concurrently addressing structural barriers, can improve
men’s help and health–seeking behavior [12].
TAKING ACCOUNT OF SEX AND GENDER
We do not argue that tackling men’s health is more important than addressing women’s
health; in reality, there is not a binary choice to be made nor is this a zero sum
game. In specific areas of health, women’s outcomes are worse than men’s. Moreover,
in many countries, women are denied equal access to health services, and gender power
dynamics mean they often lack autonomy in health–related decision–making. Women’s
health problems are inextricably linked to many social, economic, legal, political
and cultural forms of discrimination. It is therefore right that women should be regarded
as a priority for action by global and national health organisations. As the data
highlighted above shows, however, men also face a wide range of serious health problems
which require a complementary approach.
The need to take account of sex and gender in relation to the health of both men and
women is well–established in the literature. It is now a quarter of a century since
England’s Chief Medical Officer included a path–breaking chapter on men’s health in
his annual report on the state of the nation’s public health and emphasized the importance
of paying greater attention to sex differences in disease susceptibility “to the benefit
of men and women alike.” More recently, in a report on the social determinants of
health for WHO Europe, Michael Marmot recommended that strategies should “respond
to the different ways health and prevention and treatment services are experienced
by men [and] women” and policies and interventions should be “responsive to gender”
[13]. The head of WHO’s gender, equity and human rights group has also written about
the importance of “capturing the different experiences of men and women” [14].
These insights have not yet been translated into action at the strategic level, however.
An analysis of the policies and programmes of 11 major global health institutions,
including WHO, found that they did not address the health needs of men [15]. The UN’s
Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–30) overlooks
boys and world leaders at the 2016 G7 Ise–Shima Summit in Japan made important commitments
to improving women’s health but did not mention men, or how they could be engaged
to support improvements in women’s health. The flagship global strategy for increasing
contraceptive uptake by an additional 120 million users, Family Planning 2020, includes
only women as users and not men. Global health NGOs have shown insufficient interest
in men as a specific group. Only four countries – Australia, Brazil, Iran and Ireland
– have developed national men’s health policies. In most other countries, men’s health
is not recognized as an issue of concern by governments or health providers.
THE BENEFITS OF IMPROVED MEN’S HEALTH
As stated in the WHO Constitution, “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard
of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being” [16]. Increasing
men’s ability to lead healthy and fulfilling lives is an ethical imperative. Improving
men’s health would not benefit just men, however. Improved sexual and reproductive
health for men would have immediate and obvious benefits for women as well as men
themselves. Lower male premature mortality and morbidity rates would reduce the burden
on women and families who depend on men's incomes. Improved mental health and lower
levels of alcohol consumption would help to reduce male violence toward partners and
others.
Healthier men would reduce the economic costs of lost productivity and health treatments.
Men’s premature mortality and morbidity has been estimated to cost the United States
economy approximately US$ 479 billion annually [17] while the economic burden associated
with smoking, excess weight, alcohol and physical inactivity in Canadian men is believed
to be about CA$ 37 billion a year (US$ 28 billion). Retirement ages are rising internationally
so it is increasingly important to enable men to remain economically active for longer.
WHAT WORKS WITH MEN
There is a growing evidence base from around the world showing that well designed
health interventions aimed at men can improve outcomes for themselves and others and
transform harmful gender norms. The Football Fans in Training program in Scotland,
now extended into other European countries as EuroFIT, shows that professional sport
can be an effective medium for engaging men in lifestyle improvement programmes [18].
A study of the core elements that make for successful work with boys and men on mental
health promotion, early intervention and stigma reduction found that the settings
within which interventions take place need to be “male friendly” and culturally sensitive
to the specific requirements of different groups of men and boys [19]. Interventions
that aim to reshape male gender roles in ways that lead to more equitable relationships
between women and men can reduce sexually transmitted infections and prevent intimate
partner violence [20]. Easier–to–access primary care services could also reduce some
of the barriers to service use experienced by men.
NEXT STEPS
For progress to be made, we believe that global health organizations and national
governments should, as part of a comprehensive approach to gender and health, address
the health and well–being needs of men and boys in all relevant policies (eg, on obesity,
cardiovascular disease and cancer) and through the introduction of specific men’s
health policies. Educational programmes in schools and male–targeted health information
can be used to encourage and support boys and men to take better care of their own
health. Health practitioners must inform themselves about the psychosocial aspects
of men’s health, as well as male–specific clinical issues, and medical training programmes
should cover gender and other social determinants of health. Workplaces have a key
role, in terms of not only reducing exposure to hazards but also providing a setting
for health promotion.
Photo: Courtesy of the Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown University, USA
It is essential for work with men to focus on those groups with the worst health,
such as economically disadvantaged men, gay and bisexual men, men who are homeless,
migrants or offenders, and men from specific racial and ethnic groups. It is important
to recognize that most men want to enjoy good health and well–being and that their
strengths and the “positive” aspects of masculinity (for example, a desire to provide
for and protect one’s family) can be harnessed to help them achieve better outcomes.
But in order to improve men’s health successfully, there must be a commensurate policy
and programming response. Further research is also needed into how to influence men’s
health behaviors and improve their use of primary care services.
One thing is clear: the Sustainable Development Goals and better health for all cannot
be achieved if the many challenges currently facing men are left hiding in plain sight.