National Men's Health Policy Research Articles

Factors associated with women diagnosed with syphilis who received prenatal care in a primary healthcare unit.

To estimate the prevalence of syphilis and its associated factors in women who were treated at public maternity hospitals and received prenatal care in a primary healthcare unit. This cross-sectional study included 399 postpartum women. Interviews were conducted, and additional data were extracted from the pregnant woman's booklet, medical records, and printed tests. The dependent variable was a gestational syphilis diagnosis. The independent variables were grouped into socioeconomic and demographic, behavioral, reproductive, and prenatal blocks. The prevalence, prevalence ratios, and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. The χ 2 test was also performed (p≤0.05). Multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression models. The prevalence of gestational syphilis was 9.61% (95%CI: 7.14-12.83). We identified the following determining factors (adjusted prevalence ratios): history of sexually transmitted infections (2.3), first sexual intercourse by the age of 15 (2.42), partner having a history of syphilis (5.98), partner using crack/cocaine (6.42) and marijuana and others (3.02), not having a partner (3.07), low income (2.85), history of stillbirth (5.21), beginning prenatal care in the third trimester (3.15), and prenatal care received in a primary healthcare unit (without a Family Health Strategy team) (0.35). Individual and prenatal factors were associated with gestational syphilis. To control congenital syphilis, targeted interventions are needed to control syphilis in the adult population including expansion of access to quality prenatal care with identification of risks for syphilis and connection between prevention and treatment actions, implementation of strategies focused on early sexual education, effective establish prenatal care involving both partners, and effective implementation of the National Men's Health Policy (PNAISH - Política Nacional de Atenção Integral à Saúde dos Homens ).

Access of first contact in the primary health care: an evaluation by the male population.

Primary care is considered a gateway to other levels of care, however, men seek mainly specialized or emergency services, especially when they already have some affection. the objective was to verify how male users evaluate first contact access in primary care. Cross-sectional study, conducted in Campina Grande/PB, from October 2016 to February 2017, with 384 men. A sociodemographic form and the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCATool) were used. There was an association between service use and age (p = 0.001), income (p = 0.036), creed (p = 0.018) and knowledge of the National Men's Health Policy (p = 0.007); The components of first contact access (utilization and accessibility) obtained a score of 5.79 and 2.7 respectively, being this attribute considered by users as poorly oriented to primary care. Ensuring accessibility and reception in primary care is critical. The service must be organized to have the ability to receive and respond positively to the health demands of the population, to have resoluteness and ability to link the service with the user. Users do not perceive primary care as a gateway to the health system, and efforts should be made to ensure first contact access.

Making men visible in health policy: Lessons learned from Ireland's National Men's Health Policy

Making men visible in health policy: Lessons learned from Ireland's National Men's Health Policy

From training to practice: the impact of ENGAGE, Ireland’s national men’s health training programme

Ireland's National Men's Health Policy recommended developing training programmes tailored to the needs of those working in health and allied health professionals and ENGAGE was developed to meet that recommendation. This study evaluated the impact of ENGAGE on frontline service providers' self-reported knowledge, skills, capacity and practice up to 5-months post training. Between 2012 and 2015, ENGAGE Trainers (n = 57) delivered 62 1-day training programmes to 810 participants. This study was conducted on a subset of those training days (n = 26) and participants. Quantitative methodologies were used to collect pre (n = 295), post (n = 295) and 5-month post (n = 128) training questionnaire data. Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the training immediately post training (8.60 ± 1.60 out of 10) and at 5-month follow up (8.06 ± 1.43 out of 10). Participants' self-reported level of knowledge, skill and capacity in identifying priorities, engaging men and influencing practice beyond their own organisation increased immediately following training (P < 0.001) and, with the exception of improving capacity to engage men and influencing practice beyond their organisation, these improvements were sustained at 5-month post training (P < 0.001). The vast majority of service providers (93.4%) reported that ENGAGE had impacted their work practice up to 5-month post training. The findings suggest that ENGAGE has succeeded in improving service providers' capacity to engage and work with men; improving gender competency in the delivery of health and health related services may increase the utilisation of such services by men and thereby improve health outcomes for men.

Men's health: an overlooked inequality.

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.

Trend analysis of male mortality in Rio de Janeiro: contribution of nursing

Objetivo: Analisar a tendencia de mortalidade entre homens no Municipio do Rio de Janeiro, por grupo de causas, entre 1996 e 2011. Metodos: Estudo descritivo de serie temporal, utilizando dados de obitos masculinos de residentes no Municipio do Rio de Janeiro, no periodo de 1996 a 2011, para grandes grupos de causas. Os dados foram analisados com os softwares Excel 2010 e Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) versao 22.0. Resultados: A tendencia da mortalidade por grandes grupos de causas entre homens no Municipio do Rio de Janeiro esta decrescendo, com diferenca entre os grupos de causas. Porem, estes homens seguem adoecidos com o passar dos anos. Conclusao: A Politica Nacional de Atencao a Saude do Homem deve estar mais sensivel a esta realidade, ofertando uma atencao em saude capaz de reconhecer mais integralmente as necessidades de saude desse publico.

Sentidos atribuídos à política voltada para a Saúde do Homem

This study analyzed the meanings given to the Brazilian National Men's Health Policy (PNAISH) by those involved in its implementation to find out how a policy formulated at national level is reflected in local contexts. In five cities, from each macro region of the country, a set of 6 narratives and 21 semi-structured interviews were held with health managers and professionals; the information on the Policy was developed according to the Meaning Interpretation Method. The Policy is generally perceived as positive. Among the meanings given, it is emphasized that the policy is seen, by some, as a comprehensive care that guides actions to address men as a whole in Primary Care; then again, others perceived it as a reduction to urological problems. The policy was also perceived as something vague, which does not detail how to proceed to take men to the services and to better assist them, or something episodic, being the policy reduced to the accomplishment of specific events rather than ongoing actions in everyday services. The different meanings guide practices and actions, which may signal the effective and continued engagement of the professional with the policy, being a key element for its monitoring and evaluation.

Uso de indicadores para o monitoramento das ações de promoção e atenção da Política Nacional de Atenção Integral à Saúde do Homem (PNAISH)

This article presents and discusses the initial actions of Brazilian National Men's Health Policy (PNAISH) concerning indicators used for monitoring promotion and assistance actions of men's health. This multiple case study was developed among five Brazilian cities which had implanted the PNAISH: (Goiânia (GO), Joinville (SC), Petrolina (PE), Rio Branco (AC) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ). A questionnaire was applied to verify the use of data and information required to calculate the indicators recommended by the PNAISH, concerning health's promotion, implementation and expansion of the men's health assistance system, according to the planned goals contained in the cities' local action plans. The results revealed a critical situation concerning monitoring of the activities through the proposed indicators taking into account the lack of standardized procedures to calculate them. Another specific limitation encountered was the limited access to or availability of data by age and sex in the health information systems. These results point out a lack of necessary indicators to define a base line situation, which weakens the systematic monitoring and future evaluation of the actions.

Profile of men's health in Malaysia: problems and challenges

Men's health concerns have evolved from the traditional andrology and male sexual health to a more holistic approach that encompasses male psychological, social and physical health. The poor state of health in men compared to their female counterparts is well documented. A review of the epidemiological data from Malaysia noted a similar trend in which men die at higher rates in under 1 and above 15 years old groups and most disease categories compared to women. In Malaysia, the main causes of death in men are non-communicable diseases and injuries. Risk factors, such as risk-taking behaviour, smoking and hypertension, are prevalent and amenable to early interventions. Erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and prostate disorders are also prevalent. However, many of these morbidities go unreported and are not diagnosed early; therefore, opportunities for early intervention are missed. This reflects poor health knowledge and inadequate health-care utilisation among Malaysian men. Their health-seeking behaviour has been shown to be strongly influenced by family members and friends. However, more research is needed to identify men's unmet health-care needs and to develop optimal strategies for addressing them. Because the Malaysian population is aging and there is an increase in sedentary lifestyles, optimizing men's health will remain a challenge unless effective measures are implemented. The existing male-unfriendly health-care system and the negative influence of masculinity on men's health behaviour must be addressed. A national men's health policy based on a male-friendly approach to health-care delivery is urgently needed to provide a framework for addressing these challenges.

Getting Men's Health onto a Policy Agenda - Charting the Development of a National Men's Health Policy in Ireland

Getting Men's Health onto a Policy Agenda - Charting the Development of a National Men's Health Policy in Ireland

Australia's National Men's Health Policy: Masculinity Matters

The development of Australia's first national men's health policy provides an important opportunity for informed discussions of health and gender. It is therefore a concern that the stated policy appears to deliberately exclude hegemonic masculinity and other masculinities, despite evidence of their major influence on men's health-related values, beliefs, perspectives, attitudes, motivations and behaviour. We provide an evidence-based critique of the proposed approach to a national men's health policy which raises important questions about whether the new policy can achieve its aims if it fails to acknowledge 'masculinity' as a key factor in Australian men's health. The national men's health policy should be a means to encourage gender analysis in health. This will require recognition of the influence of hegemonic masculinity, and other masculinities, on men's health. Recognising the influence of 'masculinity' on men's health is not about 'blaming' men for 'behaving badly', but is crucial to the development of a robust, meaningful and comprehensive national men's health policy.

A focus on health promotion and prevention through the development of the national men's health policy

The Australian Government announced its intention to develop a national men's health policy in June 2008. A focus on prevention was identified as a foundation principle that would underpin the development of this policy. This brief report provides a descriptive account of the key discussion points relating to health promotion and prevention during a National Men's Health Roundtable held in Canberra in March 2009. Invitations to the Roundtable were extended to peak professional organisations and national health bodies with an interest in men's health. Presentations from the National Preventative Health Taskforce, the National Primary Health Care External Reference Group and National Men's Health Ambassadors were used to provoke discussion relating to men's health. The most salient issues that were raised at the Roundtable and that were specific to health promotion and prevention contexts included the need to clearly define key terms that relate to health promotion and prevention (to support a joined-up and health-in-all-policies approach); acknowledge that gender intersects with other social determinants of health; recognise that men's engagement though health promotion and primary healthcare services can be improved by using settings-based approaches more widely; a greater focus on men's health literacy; a universal funding system to support men's health promotion; clarity about the roles and responsibilities that various health professionals play in improving the status of men's health; and the need to build health equity between and within specific populations of men through action on the social determinants of health. Recognising the place of health promotion and illness prevention in a national men's health policy will provide the necessary platform to build critical health literacy among men, promote equitable access to primary healthcare services and better support men's engagement within the health system.

Recent Developments Concerning Men's Health in Australia

The term men's health has become part of mainstream health lexicon in Australia, yet in terms of policy and programs the field is still very much an emergent one. Despite obvious need (the high rates of male suicide illustrate this), there is no national men's health policy, little consensus on research priorities or an agenda, and minimal public funding. The Moving Forward in Men's Health Statement of the NSW Department of Health provides a landmark, a guiding framework for men's health for public agencies in the state. No other government presently has a specific men's health policy or funding program. Despite the release of an independent report in 1999 by the Federal Health Department, there is no broad agreement amongst stakeholders about a men's health research agenda. There is a pressing need to encourage discussion of what is health enhancing about men's and boys' lives in their various environments. The paper proposes a social population health approach, which adopts a salutogenic (life-enhancing) perspective, encouraging environments for men and boys that build good health.

Men's Health Policy: Report on the Draft National Men's Health Policy

On 18 January 1996 at the Glen Waverley Returned and Services League (RSL), the Minister for Human Services and Health, Dr Carmen Lawrence released the Draft National Men's Health Policy.