Community Members’ Perspectives on Men’s Risk and Protective Health Factors: A Community-Based Participatory Research Study

Abstract

Despite men’s health playing a significant role in the well-being of infants, children, and women, there is a gap in maternal and child health research which more broadly considers men’s health as a component of family’s and community’s overall well-being and for the sake of men’s own health and well-being, particularly from the perspective of men with marginalized identities, such as Black men, and community members. Therefore, our community-based participatory research study aimed to explore what community members perceive as protective and risk factors for the general health of men in a low-income community using a generic qualitative approach with focus groups and thematic analysis. We identified six protective factor themes (health behaviors, economic stability, expected male responsibilities, healthcare engagement, social network, and faith, spirituality, and driving forces), as well as six risk factor themes (health behaviors, impact of mentorship, experience of driving forces, healthcare avoidance, mental health concerns, and systemic bias, racism, and social inequity). There are actionable steps public health practitioners and policymakers should prioritize, including addressing structural barriers to men’s health, such as by combating discrimination and increasing access to healthcare, removing barriers to mental health care, and creating opportunities for increased social support. These strategies can give way to greater opportunities for men to engage in protective behaviors that can both improve their health across the life-course and positively impact the health of mothers, infants, children, and communities.