Gender related differences in predicting health related behaviour : Lithuanian study

Abstract

Research studies show the difference between gender and health related behaviour. It is said that man engage in more risky and health adverse behaviour, while woman engage in more preventive behaviour, as well as more treatment seeking and self-care for illness (8,10). Some of the findings support the gender role self-concept related with masculinity and weaker gender perceptions on health related behaviour (2,4,10). Other studies indicate factors related with health literacy. Men are less knowledgeable about health in general, specific diseases and their risk factors then woman (1); less able or likely to access, interpret and apply information to maintain and improve health (3) and exhibit low levels of health literacy even about male-specific health issues (5). Lithuanian woman have higher lever of health literacy (9). According to Lithuanian health statistics on 2005, more women were vaccinated from influenza; blood pressure was also measured more often to women than men. After being diagnosed with higher blood pressure women (43.8 %) were more likely to change their lifestyle than men (30.9 %), equally more woman (88.7 %) than man (76.6%) used medications in case to lower their blood pressure (7). However, there are lack of studies analyzing gender related differences in predicting health related behavior in Lithuanian population.