Men’s Health Matter

Name of the activity: Men’s Health Matter

Country/NMO: Honduras (IFMSA-Honduras)

Program: Healthy Lifestyles & Non-Communicable Diseases

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Education. Education on health issues for specific societal groups, either in the form of projects (set of tasks for a certain group over a fixed period of time), events (something notable that happens) or conferences (form meeting about ideas related to a particular topic, usually over several days).

General description:

Over the years it has been seen that men are more reluctant to go to the doctor, causing that by the time they are diagnosed with any disease, it´s in late stages in which there is little or nothing to do. Prostate cancer is one of these diseases, turning it important to develop an early screening habit. Therefore, we have come together to impulse early screening through a prostate cancer education activity to take place in some of the important healthcare centers in the departments of Cortés, Santa Bárbara and Intibucá of Honduras.

Focus area:

Cancer

Problem statement:

The WHO states that prostate cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in men and the 4th most common of all. This prevails in men older than 65 years, yet it’s incidence has been surprisingly increasing at younger ages making the promotion of early screening habits vital. According to the Centre of Disease Control (CDC), in 2018, there have been 1.3 million new cases so far. There are many risk factors concerning prostate cancer, either modifiable or not that turn any man of any age vulnerable.

Target groups:

General population, Elderly people

Beneficiaries:

General population, Elderly people

Objectives and indicators of success:

•Encourage Honduran men to have routine check-ups, especially prostate cancer, leaving all fears and myths behind.

•Reach at least 100 Honduran men and educate at least 80% of them about the most important aspects of prostate cancer as their risk factors and the importance of routine checkups, in the span of 15 days.

•Make at least 30% of the attendees who haven’t received a prostate cancer checkup during this year, positively consider getting one in 2019 , in the span of 15 days.

Methodology:

Our members at UNAH-VS will receive a class by Dr. Daniel Chinchilla (urologist) about prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Then, based on the information provided by Dr. Chinchilla and a bibliographic recollection made by the members, talks will be given in the health establishments where our members are currently assigned, these being the Hospital Mario Catarino Rivas, Centro de Salud Trinidad, Santa Bárbara and Centro de Salud Miguel Paz Barahona. Making use of computers with internet access to make the bibliographic research, and materials such as markers, cardboards, scissors and glue to make the talks more attractive.

Plans for evaluation:

The impact of the talks will be evaluated through questionnaires, one before and other one after the talks. Each question will have a score that will be added in order to get 100%. The required score for approving the test is 70%

The success for the activity´s goal will be achieved if:

• 80% of the population approves the post test.

• 80% of the population who failed the pre test approves the post test.

• 30% of the population who haven´t got a checkup during 2018, after the talks is considering to get one in 2019.