American men live sicker and die younger than their female counterparts. However, Men’s Health Network is working to change the status quo by reaching out to men where they work, live, play and pray.
“We want to make sure we are every place where men can be reached,” stated Ana N. Fadich, MPH, CHES, vice president of Men’s Health Network (MHN).
It’s mission critical, she noted, given some of the sobering statistics about men and their well-being. Men have lower rates of health insurance coverage, a higher prevalence of death rates for nine of the 10 leading causes of death, fewer physician visits and cultural barriers to seeking help.
“A lot of times, men feel they are invincible,” Fadich said. She added phrases like ‘man up,’ or ‘big boys don’t cry,’ or ‘walk it off’ are deeply engrained in the American experience. A lack of awareness and education coupled with persisting cultural behaviors have had a sustained, negative impact on men’s health in the United States. To reverse this trend, MHN is employing a number of strategies in an effort to impact health in five key areas:
Reducing premature mortality of men and boys,
Enhancing physical and mental health of men for happier, fuller, healthier lives,
Reducing cycles of violence and addiction,
Energizing government involvement in men’s health issues, and
Encouraging women to expand on their traditional role as the family’s healthcare leader to promote healthcare services and healthy choices.
The Weaker Sex
While males might celebrate their physical prowess, the reality is men are statistically the weaker sex. Fadich said men start out at a slight advantage with 105 boys being born for every 100 girls. However, she continued, “Once they hit (age) 34, the numbers for men begin to decline. At retirement age, there are about 80 men to every 100 women.”
In general, men’s life expectancy tends to be five years less than that of women – 76.3 vs. 81.1 years, according to the latest data from the National Vital Statistics System. For non-Hispanic black males, life expectancy is even lower at 71.6 years. Additionally, the gender gap widens during teenage years and early 20s when more men than women are lost to accident, violence and suicide.
In fact, suicide across all age groups is more prevalent in men. In 2013, men had a suicide rate of 20.2 vs. a rate of 5.5 for women. That year, death by suicide was 77.9 percent male compared to 22.1 percent female, according to the 2013 CDC Fatal Injury Report.
A December 2013 report from the U.S. Department of Justice noted the nation’s homicide rate fell to 4.7 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2011, the lowest level since 1963. Even so, of the 14,610 homicides in 2011, men accounted for 11,370 victims. From 2002 to 2011, the average homicide rate for males was 3.6 times higher than that of females, and young adults ages 18 to 24 had the highest homicide rate of any age group.
Changing Trends
Fadich said strategies including national awareness and educational campaigns, partnering with providers and organizations nationwide, and conducting screenings at events where men gather all enhance MHN’s efforts to change those trends.
From experience, Fadich noted, when a man is asked why he hasn’t gone to the doctor, the answer more often than not is because he can’t afford the time away from work. The answer, she continued, is to bring the ‘doctor’s office’ to the workplace. Fadich said MHN has been to worksites from John Deere to Harley Davidson. “We bring the information to them,” she said. “Sometimes we do screenings – cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body fat and grip assessment.” Fadich added MHN also works with partners nationwide to provide information and brochures for those planning health fairs or lunch and learn series at workplaces throughout the country.
The organization and its partners also have a strong presence at sporting events and in churches. “That’s where we do a lot of screenings and events – in the ‘play and pray’ portion of our mission,” Fadich said. She noted they have worked with the National Football League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball in an attempt to reach men and boys.
Churches also play a key role in getting the message across. “A lot of the folks we reach are underserved and minority populations, and they are very connected to their churches,” she explained. Fadich added, “We always recommend they speak to their healthcare provider, but we get the conversation started.”
Provider Push
Fadich said physician visits really drop off for men after they age out of a pediatrician’s office. After that, she noted, “Women get called all the time for their pap smear or mammogram. Men aren’t getting those kinds of calls.”
Knowing that physician encounters aren’t as frequent, the hope is that providers will start deeper conversations with men about family history, diet, prostate and testicular cancer, and other health concerns any time an opportunity presents … whether it’s after a sports injury, work accident or a collegiate STD scare.
“We want men to start thinking about health at a younger age and recognize what they are doing now will affect health in their 50s and 60s,” Fadich said.
Men’s Health Month
Fadich noted Men’s Health Week – the week leading up to Father’s Day – started in 1994 and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. “We encourage men to wear blue during that week in recognition of men’s health,” said Fadich, who added the number of events has grown so significantly over the years that one week is no longer sufficient. “Now we use the entire month of June to raise awareness about men’s health.”
To request materials and resources or to learn how to partner with MHN, go online to menshealthnetwork.org or call (202) 543-MHN1 (6461).
Help on The Hill
In April, Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.) were announced as co-chairs of the newly re-authorized Congressional Men’s Health Caucus of the American Public Health Association.
The Caucus is dedicated to raising awareness of male health issues, encouraging men and boys to take an active role in their personal health, and promoting legislation that has a positive impact on the health of American men, boys and their families. The bipartisan Caucus, which was formed in 2010, works closely with Men’s Health Network to ensure issues affecting men and boys have a place in government healthcare priorities.
“After witnessing my father lose his battle to colorectal cancer, it became my mission to raise awareness about the importance of preventive care and to help reduce health disparities across diseases from cancer to diabetes,” said Payne.
Co-chair Mullin added, “I consider fitness a necessity to a good life so I’m proud to help lead the Men’s Health Caucus in its mission to promote healthy living across the country. It’s incredibly important that our nation’s youth understand how to exercise and eat right so that they can live healthy, productive lives.”
The Caucus has established a Prostate Cancer Task Force, which is charged with increasing awareness of the disease. The group is also conducting outreach to three groups with especially high risk of developing prostate cancer – African-Americans, veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and individuals with a family history of the disease. Additionally, the Caucus, in conjunction with Men’s Health Network, has led briefings on a number of topics impacting men’s health and will continue these efforts to educate Congress and the general public.
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