South African men's perceptions of breast cancer: impact of gender norms on health care accessibility.

Women in undeveloped countries are often not diagnosed with breast cancer until the disease is already very severe. Some of the reasons for this include the women's lack of awareness about breast cancer and difficulty affording the costs of health care or the costs of transportation to a hospital or clinic. In many areas of the world, women also do not have the freedom to respond to their own health needs without having a male family member involved. However, we do not know very much about how men may be involved in women's health care. To better understand this, we conducted a research study in which we talked to 20 South African men about what they knew about breast cancer and how they are involved in their partner's health care decisions. Through talking to them, we found out that many did not know about breast cancer or had inaccurate information about it. The men reported that people in their community do not often talk about cancer. The men described themselves as having a positive influence on their partner's health care decisions, but some of the things they reported doing might stop their partners from being able to receive health care independently. Overall, we think that campaigns to raise awareness of breast cancer should consider how women's partners may be involved in their health care.