Men's health: impact on women, children and society

Men's health is often considered unimportant to the well-being of other demographic groups. However, men's health challenges may impact the health status of women and children profoundly, impairing family health, economics, and the stability of relationships. Society is adversely affected economically by preventable male illness and death through lost time from work, disability and diminished work productivity.Widowed women commonly experience financial hardship and increased death rates. Fathers’ age, alcohol/tobacco use, and military exposures are associated with specific birth defects in children. Infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papiloma virus (HPV) and Chlamydia among men are readily transmissible to women through sex, often with significant consequences for women and children.Males as a group are less likely to utilize preventive health care, less likely to have health insurance, and less likely to have seen a physician in the previous year than women. Studies show that many men do not respond to pain and illness by seeking health care. There is a pervasive lack of awareness concerning men's health issues. Men's work hours frequently eclipse the hours when health care is typically available. Depression in men is likely under-recognized significantly given a male suicide rate that is four times greater than that for women.Men's health is a vital but neglected component of community health. A tetrad approach is necessary to optimize public health outcomes, including children's health, women's health, men's health, and minority health as coequal partners. Addressing the health needs of males would very likely lead to overall improved health outcomes for communities and nations.