American Journal of Men's Health current issue

Epidemiology as the Foundation for Population and Men's Health

Porche, D. J. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST

Expanding Hegemonic Masculinity: The Use of Irony in Young Men's Stories About Romantic Experiences

Korobov, N. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST

This study examines the use of irony in young men’s stories about romantic and sexual experiences. Because romantic experiences are central in the constitution of a heterosexual self, and because they are increasingly formulated in relation to traditional masculine norms and the simultaneous avowal and disavowal of effeminacy, they reveal an oscillation between complicity and resistance to hegemonic masculine norms. This oscillation is explored in stories about promiscuity, seduction, and vulnerability. Critical discursive analyses reveal how young men discursively pivot between complicity and resistance to traditional masculine norms, how this oscillation functions in the accomplishment of their romantic identities, how a sense of conventional masculinity is reclaimed, and what these processes reveal about the shifting nature of hegemonic masculinity in contemporary culture.

Masculinity and the Body: How African American and White Men Experience Cancer Screening Exams Involving the Rectum

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST

Past research on prostate and colorectal cancer disparities finds that barriers to screening, such as embarrassment and offensiveness, are often reported. Yet none of this literature investigates why. This study uses masculinity and health theory to examine how men experience two common screenings: digital rectal exams (DREs) and colonoscopies. In-depth interviews were conducted with 64 African American and White men from diverse backgrounds, aged 40 to 64, from North Carolina. Regardless of race or education, men experienced DREs more negatively than colonoscopies because penetration with a finger was associated with a gay sexual act. Some men disliked colonoscopies, however, because they associated any penetration as an affront to their masculinity. Because beliefs did not differ by race, future research should focus on structural issues to examine why disparities persist with prostate and colorectal cancer. Recommendations are provided for educational programs and physicians to improve men’s experiences with exams that involve the rectum.

African American Men's Perceptions of Power in Intimate Relationships

Senn, T. E., Carey, M. P., Vanable, P. A., Seward, D. X. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST

Power in intimate relationships is an important predictor of sexual risk behavior. The purpose of this study was to better understand African American men’s perceptions of interpersonal power. A total of 20 African American men participated in focus groups to elicit their perceptions of power in intimate relationships; their responses were analyzed using grounded theory. From this analysis, a conceptual framework was developed that, among African American men, power in relationships was largely determined by the contribution of financial resources, and/or withholding sex. These findings were then considered in light of existing social—psychological theories of power in relationships. Future research should consider how to incorporate this understanding of interpersonal power into current theories of sexual risk behavior in order to develop more effective HIV risk reduction programs.

Medical Treatment for Men Who Have Sex With Men and Are Living With HIV/AIDS

Beckerman, A., Fontana, L. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST

This study focuses on a sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV/AIDS in a south Florida community. The study uses a mixed-method, quantitative, and qualitative research design. The purpose of the study was to identify individual and service system characteristics that impact access, retention, and adherence to an HIV/AIDS medical treatment regimen. The study identified many men who were not likely to seek treatment after their initial HIV/AIDS diagnosis. Compared with the general population living with HIV/AIDS in the same south Florida community many of these men were less likely to maintain a regimen of medical care for their HIV/AIDS. The study indicated that the following issues affected medical treatment and treatment adherence: treatment readiness, presence of support networks, availability of "MSM-friendly" health providers, and the cultural competency of substance abuse providers.

Penile Fracture Following Husband Abuse: A Case Report

Dienye, P. O., Jebbin, N. J., Gbeneol, P. K. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST

The case of a 35-year-old fisherman who presented in a rural clinic with a sudden onset of painful penile swelling affecting the left lateral side with associated rapid detumescence is reported. He had tried to coerce his wife to a sexual intercourse when she forcefully bent his penis. He was initially managed with cold applications, oral diclofenac potassium, chymoral, and splinting of the penis and then referred to the urological services of a teaching hospital. He defaulted only to re-present about 2 weeks later with some improvement in his symptoms. Further advice to see the urologist was also rebuffed on financial grounds. When he reported about 1 month later, he was assessed to have grade 3 erectile dysfunction. In conclusion, penile fracture is a rare condition which follows unphysiological bending of the tumescent penis during sexual intercourse or masturbation. That following husband abuse is rarer. The sequelae can be devastating.

Domestic Violence Against Men in Primary Care in Nigeria

Dienye, P. O., Gbeneol, P. K. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST

Domestic violence against men is rare in Nigeria. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of domestic violence against men, the sociodemographic characteristics of victims, and the pattern of injury sustained in a primary care setting. This was a retrospective study over a period of 5 years in which all the medical records of patients were retrieved and information on domestic violence extracted from them and transferred to a data sheet. Those whose records were grossly deficient were excluded from the study. A total of 220,000 patients were seen of which 48 (22 per 100,000) were victims of domestic violence. There were only five married male victims with a prevalence of 0.0023%. The injuries observed were scratches, bruises, welts, and scalds. The primary care physician needs a high index of suspicion to be able to detect it.

A Computer-Tailored Intervention to Promote Informed Decision Making for Prostate Cancer Screening Among African American Men

Allen, J. D., Mohllajee, A. P., Shelton, R. C., Drake, B. F., Mars, D. R. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST

African American men experience a disproportionate burden of prostate cancer (CaP) morbidity and mortality. National screening guidelines advise men to make individualized screening decisions through a process termed informed decision making (IDM). In this pilot study, a computer-tailored decision-aid designed to promote IDM was evaluated using a pre-/posttest design. African American men aged 40 years and older were recruited from a variety of community settings ( n = 108). At pretest, 43% of men reported having made a screening decision; at posttest 47% reported this to be the case (p = .39). Significant improvements were observed between pre- and posttest on scores of knowledge, decision self-efficacy, and decisional conflict. Men were also more likely to want an active role in decision making after using the tool. These results suggest that use of a computer-tailored decision aid is a promising strategy to promote IDM for CaP screening among African American men.

Helping Young Men Thrive: Positive Youth Development and Men's Health

Vo, D. X., Park, M. J. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST

Positive youth development (PYD) is a strong and growing field that complements the traditional problem-focused view of youth, and describes and promotes the healthy development and positive outcomes of young people. The PYD perspective can be applied in clinical and community intervention settings. Frameworks such as the "Five Cs" and the Search Institute’s developmental assets model have guided researchers and practitioners in better understanding the process of PYD and the effectiveness of community interventions to promote PYD. The PYD literature lacks a coherent guiding framework to describe gender differences in positive development, which in turn could guide community and clinical interventions designed to help young men thrive.

Information for Authors

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:14:11 PST