Why African Men Need Regular Health Checks, Screenings

Bimola Lekan-Dairo. Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT). Freelance Health Writer and DLHA Volunteer. Medical and editorial review by the DLHA Team.

Portrait of a smiley black man. Image credit. Freepik

Introduction 

Health is an essential aspect in living a good life, but most Africans fail to recognise the importance of regular check-ups and screenings in the promotion of good health.

The trend in the continent is that most African men do not undertake health screening and only see a doctor when they are ill. This practice is at the expense of early detection of diseases and good health outcomes. 

Sexually transmitted infections (STI), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C, Hypertension, Diabetes, Prostate cancer, and Heart disease are but a few of the chronic conditions on the rise among African men, most of whom remain unaware when they have any of these conditions, until advanced damage has occurred. 

A healthy lifestyle among African men requires knowledge of the importance of regular health checkups and screenings.

Health Challenges among African Men

Many preventable diseases are common among African men. Statistics revealed by the WHO shows that heart disease and stroke in addition to diabetes are leading causes of death among men in Africa. Also, prostate cancer has a high occurrence amongst men in Africa. So does STI and HIV

African men, like their African-American counterparts, tend to seek medical attention late due to a low acknowledgement of the benefits of regular health checkups and screening, fear, cultural attitudes and low awareness of the chronic diseases that are common within their communities. 

The Benefits of Screening and Regular Checkup for Africans

• Early detection of diseases and conditions: Health screening and regular check-up are components of preventive healthcare as they enable you to know about potential problems in their early stage when the treatment may be easier and less costly. 

• Monitoring of chronic conditions: Regular checkups enable you to monitor chronic diseases and to seek help early. For instance, if you monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol levels regularly, it helps in preventing your risk of heart diseases while diabetes can be well managed if identified early. In addition, if you are above 50 years old and undergo prostate cancer screening at intervals advised by your healthcare provider, you will be in a better place for early detection and treatment of the disease. Treatment of early stage prostate cancer is generally associated with better outcome and longer post-care survival rate. 

• Reducing healthcare costs: When diseases and condition are monitored, prevented or detected and treated at an early stage, healthcare costs are lowered generally.

• Promoting awareness and peace of mind: Undertaking regular screening and health checkups enables improved awareness of what is good and bad about your health status, providing you with reassurance and peace of mind.

• Providing opportunity to discuss lifestyle habits: Routine health checkups and screenings also provide you with the opportunity to talk with your healthcare provider on lifestyle habits that may need to be adjusted such as your diet, physical activity, drug use, sexual risk exposures, smoking and alcohol habits. This way, your odds of getting chronic ailments can be reduced. 

• Provides opportunity to get vaccinated. Vaccines are now available against many preventable health conditions that affect men and women alike in Africa, such as Covid-19, Influenza/Flu. Tetanus. Chickenpox, Shingles, Meningococcal meningitis, Haemophilus influenza (type b), Mpox, etc.

• Building relationship and trust with healthcare providers: In addition, regular health checkups and screenings help you to build trust with your healthcare providers, making it easier to bring up health issues easily without barriers at an early stage.

Need for Change of Attitudes among African Men towards Health Checkups

One of the big barriers holding back African men from embracing preventive healthcare through regular health checkups is the attitude that this is only needed when they have an illness. 

Mostly because of fear, stigmatization, or the thought of being flawlessly healthy, many African men avoid doctors. The common perception is that seeking medical help, whether for physical or mental issues, means that one is weak. This further prevents them from getting the care they need.

There is a need to change this mindset and raise awareness that regular health checks are one of the most vital parts of a responsible, healthy lifestyle. African men need to appreciate that good healthcare is a sign of strength and wisdom, not vulnerability. 

To achieve this change in mindset calls for great investment by all health stakeholders in community outreach, education, and stimulating men's health discussions in social spaces, faith-based groups, and workplaces. Most importantly, African men should be involved in conversations about their health with family and friends as a way of normalizing the need for preventive care.

Conclusion

Mental health issues, prostate cancer, hypertension, and stroke are among the serious health problems common in African men. Regular checkups are important for maintaining good health and fighting such health issues. Through preventive health care, men can lower their odds of having these deadly diseases. African men need to make their health a priority by going for routine medical check-ups, adopting healthy behaviors, and changing the cultural attitudes that in most instances, serve as barriers to timely medical care. 

As an African man, you are better off to take action to undertake annual medical checkups and sreenings in order to achieve better health and protect your yourself and those of your family and community at large. .

Resource:

Solaiman M. Men’s Health: Regular checkups, screening key. [Internet]. 2024 July 17. Mayo Clinic. Accessed October 22 2024. Available from here.

Related:

• Prostate Cancer in African Men: Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors
• Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment: An Explainer for Africans
• Prostate Enlargement in African men: Causes, Symptoms and Complications
• Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Enlargement: A Guide for Africans

Published: October 23, 2024

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