As a medical student, I got an opportunity to do an elective program in internal medicine in one of my favourite hospitals. On day one, the internal medicine consultant took me through the orientation process and gave me a tour around the hospital. When we got to the wards he stood in the corridor pointed to the male and female wards which were facing each other and said to me, “Women come to hospital when they are sick, but men come to hospital when they are dying. That explains why we have more patients in the female ward and few but sicker patients in the male ward.”
To be honest, I had never thought about men and their alleged poor health seeking behaviours before that day. I have two questions for you, my reader: Why are men so hesitant when it comes to seeking health care? Is there anything we can do about it?
Women come to hospital when they are sick, but men come to hospital when they are dying. That explains why we have more patients in the female ward and few but sicker patients in the male ward.
I had a discussion with a few of my male friends and asked them why they don’t like going to hospital. Allow me to share the few responses I got;
1. The way society views a man
There are certain societal roles and ideologies that our society has imposed on the man that discourage him from asking for help. Growing up, a boy child is taught that being a man means being strong. Unfortunately, the society’s definition of being strong is either incomplete or misleading. The boy child is also taught to endure as much pain as he can without complaining or whining. Statements like, ‘a man doesn’t cry’ or ‘a man sheds tears from the inside’, have done more harm than good. As a result of this unhealthy mindsets and thought patterns, we have men who do not seek healthcare or most who come to hospital when their symptoms are so far gone and out of control. It is therefore not an individual problem but a creation of our own society. We might need to redefine what it really means to be a man and to be strong.
Growing up, a boy child is taught that being a man means being strong. Unfortunately, the society’s definition of being strong is either incomplete or misleading.
2. The Man Has More Pressing Needs to Take Care Of
One of my friends told me that his poor health seeking behaviours are purely as a result of his misaligned priorities. He said that he might forget his annual health checkup or ignore his body because he needs to take care of his family and make sure there is food on the table. Health insurance might not be his first priority when his children are hungry or sent home for school fees. The man has a lot of things and people to take care of, such that his health has now become a luxury he might not always afford.
3. There is little education about men’s health
As opposed to women’s health, there are very few conversations around a man’s health. Therefore, the man has little knowledge and doesn’t know what exactly to look out for and how to prevent diseases.
Is there anything we can do about this sad situation?
I believe there is still a lot we can do to encourage health seeking behaviours among men.
- Mentorship at societal level
As a society, we need to take some steps back and undo the damage we have done to the boy child. The boy child needs assurance that it is okay to ask for help. He needs to believe that admitting that he is unwell or weak does not make him less of a man. We need fathers who will set an example for the boy child by visiting the doctor when they are unwell, admitting that they are feeling overwhelmed and being open about their scars and conditions.
- Support System.
Every man is a carer and a caregiver. It is a man’s role to take care and provide for his family, but who takes care of him? We need to encourage men to make sure that they are not walking alone. Every man requires a strong social and emotional support system. Being a lone ranger does not make a man more strong, but it leaves him exposed and vulnerable to a lot of attacks.
It is also important to encourage women to be conscious of the fact that if we are not intentional about taking care of the men in our lives, then we will eventually lose them. If you are a wife, check on your husband’s health from time to time. Encourage him to lead a healthy lifestyle. Create a healthy environment for him at home. If you are a mother raising boys, teach them to make their health a priority as early as possible.
We need fathers who will set an example for the boy child by visiting the doctor when they are unwell, admitting that they are feeling overwhelmed and being open about their scars and conditions.
- Health education
I would encourage every health care worker to take every opportunity they get to educate the man about his health. It does not have to be in a formal set up. As a health care worker, seek to empower your male friends with knowledge about their health.
I also encourage every man to consider seeking information about their health as early as possible.
We have a long way to go in terms of “HIS HEALTH” but I believe we will get there eventually.
