Early detection of health challenges among middle-aged men in a large Danish municipality

Background
A group of middle-aged men between 45-65 years from Aalborg Municipality in Denmark have been identified with health challenges due to their heavy alcohol use, tobacco smoking and physical inactivity. The men’s contact to the health- and social system is sparse affecting their overall health situation. The aim of the project is to generate knowledge that can be used for early detection of health challenges among middle-aged men in Aalborg Municipality.

Methods
An ethnographic study design was chosen to explore the middle-aged men’s perceptions of health, their health behaviour, health literacy and patterns of social- and health care contacts. Data was constructed via multi-sited field work, participant observation, ethnographic interviews, and document analysis. Participants included middle-aged men between 45-65 years, who live in their own homes, attend public parks and social peer groups, and with limited contact to the health- and social system.

Findings
The men experienced different challenges regarding their ability to acquire, understand and use information about health and health services. Fieldwork showed that close and frequent contact to health and social workers’ strengthened the men’s access to and utilization of health services

Conclusion
Findings suggest that community outreach and a stronger focus on the men’s health needs in both the social- and health system can be one of the keys to addressing health challenges for the group of middle-aged men in a large Danish Municipality.