Men's health: nursing actions and perspectives

ações e perspectivas dos enfermeiros

Abstract

Men do not seek medical help from the primary healthcare services frequently and the alarming epidemiological indicators demonstrate the need of proper attention to men's health. In this scenario, the Family Health Program constitutes a possible way forward. This study aims to analyse the actions and perspectives of family health nurses regarding men's healthcare. The family health program intends to promote, to protect and to improve the health of this population segment. This is a qualitative study whose data was collected through semi-structured interviews with seventeen nurses. The interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis that led to the identification of four categories: 1. Activities developed in the Family Health Unit; 2. Nurse's perception regarding the male population of the ascribed area; 3. Nurses' training on men's healthcare; 4. Expectation of changes in the men's healthcare model. The results revealed the need of a broader intervention on men's health by the primary healthcare system in which healthcare education could be the way of ensuring an integrated care so as to guarantee the Brazilian Public Health System principles of equity and universality.