This year’s conference focused on the responsibilities that young and old Palauan men bear and how these responsibilities drive them to engage in health issues and seek help or ignore health concerns.
According to Public Health, some of the top 10 causes of death here in Palau are cardiovascular disease, cancer, injuries and strokes. “These indicators show that men fare poorly in relation to women, especially in terms of life expectancy, with men dying as much as six years earlier than women.”
Some of the concerns discussed in the conference were whether or not masculine ideals of strength, or the perception of weakness, prevent Palauan men from accessing health services, or if the stigma associated with disease affect his decision to seek treatment.
During the conference, a special panel discussion on Culture, Gender and Masculinity: A Female Perspective was done, as well as a breakout session for youth ages 15 to 19 on Gender and Reproductive Health.
//
