Abstract
Men's health is often considered inconsequential to the well-being of other demographic groups. However, men's health challenges may impact the health status of women and children substantially, impairing spousal health, children's health, family economics and stability of family relationships. Economically, society as a whole is impacted adversely by preventable male illness and death through lost time from work, disability and diminished work productivity. Widowed women commonly experience considerable financial hardship and increased death rates. Fathers' age, substance use, workplace and military exposures are associated with specific birth defects in children. Sexually transmitted infections such as human immunodeficiency virus, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus, gonorrhea and chlamydia among men are readily transmissible to women through sex, often with major health consequences for women and children. The new science of epigenetics is yielding important new insights on the impact of a father's health on the health of his children and grandchildren. Males as a group have specific and definable health problems as well as earlier mortality overall than women but utilize preventive health care less frequently, carry health insurance less often, and are less likely to have seen a physician in the previous year. Men's health is an essential but frequently overlooked component of community health. A tetrad approach is necessary to optimize community health outcomes, including children's health, women's health, men's health, and minority health as coequal partners. Addressing the gender-specific health concerns of males would very likely lead to overall improved health outcomes for families, communities and nations.
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