{"id":27258,"date":"2013-06-21T14:02:38","date_gmt":"2013-06-21T13:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/?p=27258"},"modified":"2013-06-21T14:02:38","modified_gmt":"2013-06-21T13:02:38","slug":"paul-laffin-is-mens-health-the-forgotten-inequality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/2013\/06\/21\/paul-laffin-is-mens-health-the-forgotten-inequality\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Laffin: Is men\u2019s health the forgotten inequality?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The discussion of health inequalities can sometimes appear ubiquitous at local, national, or European level. We all know the massive impact that socio-economic factors can have on a person\u2019s health and that someone\u2019s ethnicity can also play a significant role in determining health outcomes. But, by focusing on such contributory factors, are we ignoring the bull elephant in the room?<\/p>\n

Although men\u2019s overall life expectancy in Europe as a whole is increasing, life expectancy is 7.5 years lower for men (72.5) than for women (80) across Europe, a difference ranging from 11.3 years in Latvia to 3.3 years in Iceland.<\/p>\n

These figures also disguise significant variation within countries, where such differences are closely related to socio-economic status. Northern Irish men, for example, have a life expectancy of 77 years in comparison to the UK average of 78.1years.<\/p>\n

The factors causing such discrepancies are not surprising\u2014poor lifestyles and the infrequent use of or late presentation to health services\u2014to name but two. These differences are replicated across Europe with both regional and intra-regional variations.<\/p>\n

The European Commission (EC) belatedly recognised the significance of this major health issue in 2011 with the publication of its report The State of Men\u2019s Health in Europe<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

It recognises the impact that \u201cmen\u2019s health\u201d issues have on society as a whole and that there is a growing consensus as to what constitutes such issues. The role of anti-smoking legislation in reducing tobacco related conditions was cited as an example of how legislation can lead to major health improvements.<\/p>\n

However, the report also noted that \u201cthe policy documents explored through this report were notable in their lack of comment on the male specific issues\u201d and that \u201calthough individual countries have developed health policies and strategies aimed at improving their population\u2019s health a \u2018one size fits all\u2019 approach is evident.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Republic of Ireland is the one country to buck the trend with the development of a National Men\u2019s Health Policy 2008-2013<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The EC also noted that \u201cthere appeared to be few initiatives that were directly focused onto the needs of men, either in a form that men would use or in places that men would more easily access\u201d and that \u201cwhere a male focused approach has been adopted there have been marked improvements in up-take and success of health initiatives.\u201d<\/p>\n

BMA Northern Ireland\u2019s 2011 report Improving Men\u2019s Health in Northern Ireland<\/em><\/a>\u2014the only European medical organisation to have such a policy\u2014supports these arguments and recommends action in three distinct areas:<\/p>\n