Health Care and Health Practices
“Men don’t go to the doctor” –
This trope sums up the less than desirable rates of health care utilization and delayed help-seeking that is characteristic of men. However, this sentiment is missing a few things. It does not acknowledge the ways that masculinity and standard practice in health care settings seem to be at odds or that men are more likely to lack access to health care. Several chapters in this section provide another way of viewing men’s lack of health care use by focusing on men’s access to these services. Additionally, chapters focus on tobacco use and oral diseases that disproportionately affect men and can be attenuated with routine health care engagement.
Access to Primary Care is the first chapter in this section. It explores men’s access to primary care or lack thereof. The author summarizes current knowledge of men’s primary care access across immigration and socioeconomic statuses.
Access to Mental Health touches on a topic that is more relevant than ever. Important distinctions between physical health and mental/behavioral health are made in terms of access and insurance coverage. Men’s inequities are illuminated through discussions on race and socioeconomic status.
Oral Diseases discusses prevalent oral diseases that affect population health. In particular, oral disease prevalence among men is examined at the intersections of income and race.
The chapter entitle Oral Health accompanies the previous chapter by pointing to oral health access and issues among men that can contribute to the progression of oral diseases. In thinking about access, socioeconomic status and rurality are addressed and solutions are explored.
Tobacco Use is the last chapter in this section, which is befitting because tobacco use affects oral health, may be a coping mechanism for mental health challenges, and can cause embarrassment when screening in primary care visits. Among men, tobacco use initiation and prevalence are examined by developmental life stage and education level.
