Men's Health

Alcoholism and Drug Abuse among Men has Increased and Mortality Rates have Risen Dramatically.

Men have suffered a sharp and unexpected drop in life expectancy in many countries of the region. In Russia, women now outlive men by 12.5 years, as compared to a world-wide average of four years. In the Slavic countries of the former Soviet Union, the Baltic States, and Kazakhstan, the difference now is an average of ten years.

This has largely been attributed to the dramatic increase in stress levels, caused by the steep rise in unemployment without a change in the traditional role of the man as breadwinner. Indeed, trends in life expectancy and gender gaps seem to have paralled the pace of economic reform. Thus, the "fast " reformers, whose economies had slower depressions and more rapid revivals also had lower dips in life expectancy and narrower male-female gaps.[Click here to see graph]

Increased stress levels have also triggered a rise in mental illness and suicide. Male suicide rates in the region are extremely high, with the incidence of suicide reaching three times the levels in Western Europe. Male suicide rates in the region range from 2 to 6 times that of women, as compared to 4.2 times in the US. [Click here to see graph]

Risk-taking behavior including smoking, drug abuse, and alcoholism has shown a marked increase leading to a breakdown of family, a rise in domestic violence and institutionalization of children. Alcoholism has reduced productivity at work and increased the costs of health care.

Policy Implications

The European countries of the former Soviet Union need to address the health problems that reduce the life expectancy of men in their countries. This will mean formulating programs that deal with increased risk- taking behavior among men, including drug abuse, alcoholism, and smoking. These programs will have considerable positive impact on GDP and social welfare in these countries.

Source: UNICEF, The Transmonee Database.

Source:WHO (2001).