Getting Men to the Door
Executive Summary
During 2008, in recognition of the fact that men have worse health outcomes, experience
more risk factors, and utilise health services less than women, the Ministry of Health
established the „Men‟s Health Innovation Fund‟ to support the development of community
based men’s health initiatives. Nelson Bays Primary Health (NBPH) expressed interest in
this initiative and with C & M Associates (2006) Ltd made a successful application for
funding. The application was endorsed by the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board.
The resulting „Getting Men to the Door‟ project had a point of difference in that rather than
focussing on men themselves it focussed on health and social agencies. While recognising
that men are a diverse and often hard to reach group, this approach was based in the belief
that agencies are often guided in their practice by commonly held, and largely negative,
assumptions about men and what influences men‟s behavior. The project aimed to work with
health/social…