Exploring the Influences of Hegemonic and Complicit Masculinity on Lifestyle Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases Among Adult Men in Maseru, Lesotho

Abstract

Masculinity is an important health determinant and has been studied as a risk factor for communicable diseases in the African context. This paper explores how hegemonic and complicit masculinities influence the lifestyle risk factors for noncommunicable diseases among men. A qualitative research method was used, where eight focus group discussions were conducted among adult men in Maseru, Lesotho. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Although the participants typically described taking responsibility as a key feature of what it meant to be a man in Lesotho, their reported behaviors and rationales indicated that men commonly abdicated responsibility for their health to women. Participants were aware of the negative effects of smoking on health and acknowledged the difficulty to stop smoking due to the addictive nature of the habit. The initiation of smoking was linked by participants to the need to be seen as a man, and then maintained as a way of distinguishing themselves from the feminine. Regarding harmful alcohol consumption, participants reported that stress, particularly in their relationships with women, were linked to the need to drink, as they reported limited outlets for emotional expression for men in Lesotho. On the subject of poor diet, the study found that most men were aware of the importance of vegetable consumption; the perceived lengthy preparation process meant they typically depended on women for such healthy food preparation. Almost all participants were aware of the increased susceptibility to diverse negative health effects from physical inactivity, but because of the physical nature of the work, those engaged in traditionally masculine occupations did not exercise. In the context of lifestyle risk factors for noncommunicable diseases, masculinity has positive and negative impacts. It is important to design health education programs targeting men to successfully mitigate the negative health impacts of masculinity.

Epidemiological Trends in Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Attributable to Modifiable Risk Factors and Its Association with Sociodemographic Transitions across BRICS-Plus Countries

“…For both sexes combined, between 1990 and 2019, despite a 25% reduction in dietrelated ASMR for CVD (146 to 109 per 100,000), the dietary risk is the leading attributable risk to high CVD ASMR (109 [95% UI 81-142] than high BMI (53 [95% UI 31-80] and smoking (37 [95% UI [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] across BIRCS-plus countries in 2019. The ASMR for CVD attributable to high BMI increased by 26.2% (42.7 to 53.9 per 100,000).…”

“…The United Nations declared Lesotho as one of the most underdeveloped countries with a higher poverty rate and increasing NCD burden [37]. Moreover, young adults in Lesotho had a higher prevalence of smoking, high-level use of alcohol, poor diet quality, and low physical activity [38]. Similarly, factors contributing to the highest risk of CVD mortality in young cohorts in the Philippines included poor dietary habits [20,39], higher prevalence of smoking [40], and high BMI [1] as shown in our findings.…”

“It's Always Good to have a Beer with your Teammates”: Alcohol Consumption and Hegemonic Masculinity within Community Sports Clubs in Aotearoa New Zealand

“…It requires a much more nuanced approach, one that considers the different characteristics that construct what it means to have a culture. A male's social environment will shape health beliefs and attitudes, which can influence health choices either positively or negatively (Tseole & Vermaak, 2020). Gender researchers suggest that many health practices are determined by gender, and decisions made in regard to health are a way of 'doing' gender (Courtenay, 2000).…”