Dubai
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in most parts of the world the health outcomes among males continue to be substantially worse than among females. Despite that, the gender-based disparity in health has received little acknowledgement from health policy makers. By 2010, on the whole, women were outliving men by an average of almost six years. In many countries, research suggests that women are more likely than men to use health services.
Several recent studies by WHO suggest that notions of masculinity not only increase the risk of infection, but they also inhibit men from getting tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), coming to terms with their HIV-positive status, taking instructions from nurses and engaging in health-enabling behaviours.
Dr Samir S. Shirodkar, consultant urologist at the Mediclinic Welcare Hospital, said that the biggest health scares for men were prostate and testicular cancer.
He said: “This is from a urological perspective. Self examination for abnormal lumps in the testicular region for detection of testicular cancer is recommended. For prostate cancer, after the age of 50-55 years, it is recommended to get prostate health checks. It is recommended at an earlier age if there is family history of prostate cancer.”
When asked if the issue of men’s health was getting enough importance, he said: “Men’s health is usually neglected and awareness and health education should be promoted in healthcare facilities and at the work place.”
