Men are more likely than women to die from hypertension, diabetes and HIV/AIDS, largely because they are less likely to seek treatment or adhere to it, according to a new analysis of data from 204 countries.
The study, published in May in the journal PLOS, found smoking rates among men were significantly higher in 86% of countries, while women had higher obesity rates in 64% of countries.
Researchers say strict gender norms around masculinity may discourage men from using health services, contributing to the disparity. “Gender differences appear across nearly every stage of health – from higher smoking rates in men to higher obesity rates in women,” said Angela Chang, the study’s lead author.
Kenneth Boos and Sarah Hawkes, co-founders of the Global 50/50 health initiative, said sex-disaggregated data helps identify where men’s and women’s health trajectories diverge and can inform better targeted interventions.
The study calls on health professionals to design strategies to encourage men’s participation in preventive and routine care to reduce premature deaths.
