Factors hindering access and routine monitoring of man in health institutions: an integrative review

Abstract

The National Policy for Integral Attention to Men’s Health reflects that the male population attends Primary Health Care services less often than the female population. Several bio-psycho-sociocultural
factors influence this behavior. This study aimed to identify the factors that hinder access and routine monitoring of men in health institutions. This work is an integrative review of the Virtual Health Library’s online databases, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, and the Nursing Database. The sample was composed of 10 articles published from 2010 to 2021. The responsible researcher carried out the collection of articles during the 2nd semester of
2021, in August and September. A self-made form was used to collect the articles from the sample. The barriers that hinder the search for health services by the male public are the hours of operation of the units that do not coincide with working hours; the health teams being composed mostly of women; the delay in getting care; and the thought of infallibility of men. Therefore, these complicating factors contribute to worsening men’s quality of life, decreasing their life expectancy, and increasing the rate of chronic communicable and non-communicable diseases that can be avoided.