The role of self-care interventions on men's health-seeking behaviours to advance their sexual and reproductive health and rights

The male-focused marital relationship enrichment and sexual well-being interventions: A scoping review

Background

There is an increasing need for sexual well-being and health promotion strategies that effectively engage men. Researchers have evaluated the efficacy of sexual and reproductive health-related and marital enhancement interventions in male-dominated societies. However, few have focused on culturally appropriate and gender-specific program effects.

Objective

This review aims to evaluate evidence of existing interventions aimed at enriching marital relationships and sexual well-being in adult men.

Materials and Methods

This scoping review was conducted by searching various databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, SID, and Noormags), and other available resources in both English and Persian languages. We located all publications up to January 2023 with no time restriction. Inclusion criteria were studies targeting men in the enrichment of marital and sexual relationships, which focus on marital/sexual enrichment, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) program, passionate relationship, or sexual satisfaction as the main outcomes. PRISMA guidelines were utilized in this review.

Results

Of records 34,405 retrieved by searching, after removing duplicate articles, 8 articles were included based on the inclusion criteria. SRH program was the main focus of 6 articles. Marital and sexual enhancement were common areas of focus in 2 studies. Research methods included 2 semi-experimental, 3 clinical trials, 1 systematic review, 1 content analysis, and a mixed method. According to the assessment result, 4 articles were moderate and 4 were of high quality.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal that a small number of interventions specifically offering SRH or marital and sexual enhancement programs to men should be conducted. As the majority were heterosexual couples, we recommend male-focused programs recognizing men's sexuality.

Men's Achilles' heel: prostate cancer and the reconstruction of masculinity

The aim of this study was to investigate how Swedish men diagnosed with prostate cancer understand the effects of their treatment in relation to sexual health and masculinity. Utilising a phenomenological and sociologically informed approach, the study involved interviews with 21 Swedish men who experienced problems following treatment. The results showed that participants' initial response post-treatment, involved the development of new bodily understandings and socially informed strategies to handle incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Due to impotence and the loss of ejaculatory ability following treatments such as surgery, participants re-articulated the meaning of intimacy, as well as their understanding of masculinity and themselves as ageing men. Unlike in previous research, such a re-articulation of masculinity and sexual health is understood as taking place within rather than in opposition to hegemonic masculinity.

Socioeconomic Characteristics, Lifestyle Behaviors, and Health Conditions Among Males of Reproductive Age With and Without Disabilities, NHANES 2013-2018

Health status during the reproductive years influences fecundity, fertility, and the future health of males and their offspring. There remains a dearth of literature examining men's preconception health, especially among high-risk populations, such as those with disabilities. The objective of this study was to examine indicators of preconception health, including chronic medical conditions, lifestyle behaviors, and health care utilization, among males of reproductive age with and without disabilities in the United States. Data were from 3,702 males of reproductive age (18-44 years) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2013-2018. Approximately 14% of males reported having at least one disability related to vision, hearing, cognition, mobility, self-care, or independent living. Among all men, suboptimal preconception health indicators were prevalent including poor or fair self-rated health; low education and household income status; lack of health insurance and no recent utilization of health care and dental care; cigarette smoking; frequent alcohol consumption and binge drinking; marijuana and illegal drug use; obesity; low fruit and vegetable intake and no multi-vitamin use; low physical activity; short sleep durations; depressive symptoms; and hypertension and asthma. Compared to males with no disabilities, males with any disabilities were more likely to have suboptimal preconception health indicators. Strategies to promote and improve sexual health, preconception care, and family planning services among all men are needed. For males with disabilities, specifically, further investigation of their specific health needs related to sex, reproduction, family planning, and fatherhood, as well as interactions with health care providers, is required.

Poison control centres and alternative forms of communication: comparison of response rates between text message and telephone follow-up

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the number of patients managed by poison control centres (PCCs) has increased without a proportional increase in the number of physicians. To improve efficiency without neglecting patient follow-up, some PCCs have begun using text messages. We evaluated the difference in response rates between text messaging and traditional telephone follow-up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective, monocentric, non-randomised cohort study was conducted using data from calls made by the New Aquitaine PCC between February 27, 2019, and March 31, 2019. Patients were contacted up to three times by a phone call or short message service (SMS).

RESULTS

For the analysis, 823 patients were included. At the end of follow-up, the response rates were similar in the phone call and SMS group (94 vs. 94%; p = 0.76) with median [interquartile range] response times of 0 min [0; 27 min] and 29 min [6; 120 min], respectively. The response rates did not differ in subgroups stratified according to sex, self-poisoning vs. relative response, age class, and solicitation during working hours vs. outside of working hours (all p > 0.5). Moreover, health practitioners required 2.4-fold more time to call than to send text messages (p < 0.001), and all practitioners were satisfied or very satisfied with text messaging implementation.

CONCLUSION

Patients had good adherence to text messages. Text messages are easy to use, rapid, and allow the physician to easily prioritise follow-up without occupying the emergency line. Additionally, the costs of installation and maintenance are low for text message systems; these low costs facilitate the implementation of such services in various medical situations.

Self-care deficit among older men in the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for nursing

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze self-care deficit among older men in the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and to discuss the implications for nursing practice. Methods: web survey, multicentric, qualitative. A total of 120 older men participated, applying a form from April to June 2020 and April to August 2021. Reflective Thematic Analysis, interpreted by Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory, was used. Results: temporally, the self-care of older men was manifested in the self-care requirements - affective bonds, self-care for development - meditation and self-care with health deviations - remote consultations. Fully, partially compensatory, educational/support systems mobilized self-care. Final Considerations: as care managers, nurses can strengthen the support network for older men by activating professionals from the multidisciplinary team, family members, caregivers and the community to promote self-care and correct health deviations in times of crisis.

Law, human rights and gender in practice: an analysis of lessons from implementation of self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health

Self-care interventions for health are becoming increasingly available, and among the preferred options, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research assessed the extent of attention to laws and policies, human rights and gender in the implementation of self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health (SRH), to identify where additional efforts to ensure an enabling environment for their use and uptake will be useful. A literature review of relevant studies published between 2010 and 2020 was conducted using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. Relevant data were systematically abstracted from 61 articles. In March–April 2021, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 key informants, selected for their experience implementing self-care interventions for SRH, and thematically analysed. Laws and policies, rights and gender are not being systematically addressed in the implementation of self-care interventions for SRH. Within countries, there is varied attention to the enabling environment including the acceptability of interventions, privacy, informed consent and gender concerns as they impact both access and use of specific self-care interventions, while other legal considerations appear to have been under-prioritised. Operational guidance is needed to develop and implement supportive laws and policies, as well as to ensure the incorporation of rights and gender concerns in implementing self-care interventions for SRH.