Dr J Research and Training Solutions

Many Black men in South Africa delay seeking help at public clinics until their illnesses are advanced. My recent study in Ga-Rankuwa shows that this is not simply neglect - it is shaped by cultural expectations of toughness, reliance on self-care, stigma, economic pressures, and mistrust of public primary health care facilities.
The findings highlight the urgent need for male-friendly, confidential, and culturally sensitive primary health care services that recognise men’s realities and encourage earlier engagement. By addressing both systemic shortcomings and harmful masculinity norms, we can reduce preventable deaths and improve health outcomes for men.
I would love to hear your thoughts - how can we reframe health-seeking so that men see it not as weakness, but as responsibility?

Late entry and chronic burdens: Black men’s first contact with public primary health care in South Africa
Mampete Jemina Mookeng, University of South Africa.

MSI Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (MSIJMR) | DOI https://zenodo.org/records/17213048 | Page 01 to 17

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https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/News/Articles/Koma-e-wetse:-When-tradition-meets-the-harsh-realities-of-modern-livelihoods

Koma e wetse: When tradition meets the harsh realities of modern livelihoods Koma e wetse: When tradition meets the harsh realities of modern livelihoods

https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/News/Articles/Study-finds-black-men-underrepresented-in-public-healthcare-facilities

Study finds black men underrepresented in public healthcare facilities Study finds black men underrepresented in public healthcare facilities

Men as Heroes — But Also as Human

Yesterday, we celebrated fathers as heroes — strong, dependable, and resilient. But June is also Men's Health Month, a time when we are called to recognise something just as important: that men are human, vulnerable, and in need of care too.

These two messages may seem contradictory, but they are not. Real heroism is not found in hiding pain or pushing through silently. It is found in the courage to speak up, to seek help, and to take responsibility for one's own health — physical, mental, and emotional.

Let us expand our understanding of what it means to be a man. Strength and vulnerability are not opposites — they are companions on the journey to true well-being.

To every man reading this:
You matter. Your health matters. Make that appointment. Talk to someone. Show up for yourself — because being strong also means knowing when to seek help.

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