LOW participation by men in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programmes is hindering efforts to improve public health outcomes, according to the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC).
Despite the availability of services across health institutions, indications are that men continue to lag behind in accessing key interventions such as HIV testing, family planning counselling and prostate cancer screening.
ZNFPC marketing and communications officer Beautrice Hlilokela said the trend was contributing to preventable illnesses and avoidable deaths among men.
“Current trends show that men are significantly underrepresented in sexual and reproductive health programmes and this is affecting early detection and treatment of serious conditions such as prostate cancer,” she said.
Hlilokela said societal attitudes and misconceptions that associated SRH services with women are discouraging men from seeking medical attention.
She added that lack of knowledge remained a major barrier, with many men unaware of available services and the importance of routine health checks.
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Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike told NewsDay that men’s poor health-seeking behaviour is a critical concern.
“Men in Zimbabwe tend to die younger than women primarily due to poor health seeking behaviour and lack of focus on male health in primary healthcare settings,” Rusike indicated.
He noted that unlike women, who often have dedicated health services such as reproductive health and screening, men do not frequently engage in preventive check-ups, which leads to lower detection of common diseases.
Rusike attributed the trend to traditional and lifestyle factors that discourage men from seeking care.
“Girls are largely more protected and adopt more healthy behaviours, including nutrition. Meanwhile, culture imposes on the young men to be strong and take care of the weaker members of the family,” he said.
“They usually have no one to turn to for advice.”
He added that family planning services in Zimbabwe are mostly utilised by women, as men often wait until a disease is in an advanced stage before seeking medical help.
Hlilokela urged men to take proactive steps in safeguarding their health and supporting their partners.
“By getting involved, men not only improve their own health outcomes, but also contribute to stronger families and healthier communities,” she said.
Health experts say increasing male participation in SRH programmes is critical in reducing disease burden and achieving national health targets.