Men's health: representation and experience of male workers about the body, health and illness

Author(s)

Marco Antonio Alves Separavich

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
• Defense date: 2014-08-14

Examining board members

Ana Maria Canesqui; Everardo Duarte Nunes; Juan Carlos Aneiros Fernandez; Márcia Thereza Couto Falcão; Reni Aparecida Barsaglini

• Advisor: Ana Maria Canesqui

Abstract

This study examined the experiences and representations of male workers about the body, health, illness and care, and major health problems perceived by them, namely, hypertension and chronic back pain. Analyzed as explain its causes; how face and seek the resolution or mitigation of these health problems, therapeutic use, they entail interference in their daily lives and identities. The literature of Public Health on the men¿s health and masculinities showed that male demands in the search for treatments in public health services and the perception that they are carriers of specific health needs are minority. It was found that sociological and anthropological approaches to how they live and deal with the illness that affect them are also rare. It is justifiable, therefore, the interest and the reasons that motivated this work. The male minority demands on health services, designed from traditional masculinity prevailing social and epidemiological data of high rates of male mortality, provide the basis for formulating of Brazilian Comprehensive Healthcare Policy for Men, whose objectives seek to promote improving the health of the male population aged 20 to 59, facilitating their access to comprehensive health care in primary care services. Campinas (Brazil) is a home pilot projects this policy. We analyzed the process of implementation of this policy in a health center city chosen as a pilot, whose services are structured in the Family Health Strategy. We interviewed 9 professionals working in it, specifically in adult health, considering their knowledge this policy,care activities they perform to meet the objectives this policy, and perceived obstacles that hinder their implementation. The study of illness experience with hypertension and chronic back pain were collected from 15 men, mean age 56 years, residents in the health unit concerned district and used at some point the public health service. The interviews all respondents were transcribed, read thoroughly to identify recurring themes. In the analysis, ranked themes were divided into broad categories such as male body, care, health problems, interpreting them in the light of the sociological and anthropological readings taken and where possible, combining the experience and representations of illness through reports interpreted by researcher. It was concluded that the illness experiences are always quirky and biographical, however, bring with broader social and cultural references, and should be considered, not to cover opacity, both experiences and representations, the people who live and ways to interpret and signify them. They may also widen the debate on inclusion and male visibility in public health services, expanding the eye of policy makers on their political actions directed to men¿s health (AU)