A new analysis of data from 204 countries shows that men are more likely than women to develop — and die from — high blood pressure, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Yet men are also less likely to seek treatment or remain committed to medical care.
According to the study, male smoking rates are significantly higher in 86% of countries, while women have higher obesity rates in 64% of countries.
Researchers say multiple factors — including rigid norms surrounding masculinity — may discourage men from using healthcare services.
While men and women share many similarities, there are clear differences in vulnerability to certain diseases. Most of these differences are not rooted in genetics.
Kent Buse and Sarah Hawkes, co-founders of “Global 50-50,” an organization promoting gender equality in health, say they have long advocated for gender-disaggregated data because it reveals where men’s and women’s health trajectories diverge. This approach, they argue, helps identify why such differences exist — whether due to how healthcare is delivered or how specific diseases affect each sex.
Angela Chang, lead author of the study, said: “Gender differences appear at nearly every point in the health pathway — from higher smoking rates among men to greater obesity among women.”
The study recommends that health specialists develop strategies aimed at encouraging men to participate more in preventive and routine healthcare.
The research, titled “Gender-Disaggregated Data Across Health Pathways: A Global Review of Hypertension, Diabetes, HIV, and AIDS,” was published in May this year in the journal PLOS.
