Abstract
The goal of this article is to assess the perception of male health from the viewpoint of men and women. The study drew from a random sample of men aged 20 to 59 who were SUS (Unified Healthcare System) users and resided in the capitals of Brazilian states and the Federal District. Participants were interviewed by phone. Sociodemographic variables and variables related to perception of healthcare services, health status and health care were recorded. Logistic regression was used to assess failure to seek service and good and very good self-care. The majority of the study population considers it has no health problem, especially men. The main reason for failure to seek treatment is no access to services, although both men and women claim the healthcare services receive them adequately. Over 40% of men and almost 30% of women self-medicate. Men believe they are taking good care of their health, while women have a different perception of this. Perceptions differ when we take into consideration age, years of schooling, ethnicity and occupation.
Highlights
The first studies of men’s health emerged in the US last century, in the late 1970s
The topic gained new approaches, among them an attempt to focus on male health and disease from a gender relational point of view[2,3]
In this study gender differences regarding morbidity, mortality and life expectancy were explained based on the biological-genetic specificities of men and women, on social differences and inequalities, on different social expectations on the part of men and women, on the search and use of healthcare services and professional healthcare focused on men
Summary
The first studies of men’s health emerged in the US last century, in the late 1970s. Most of these studies centered on health risks[1]. Looking at the literature on this topic produced in Brazil, the milestone would be the special issue of Ciência & Saúde Coletiva (Science and Group Health) published in 2005. The editorial of this number stated that promoting the health of both men and women required a deeper exploration of the hegemonic ideologies of masculinity and the health-disease process[5]
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