Teagasc supports Promotion of Farmer’s Health

The report has been produced by Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) in association with the ‘Movember’ movement which promotes Men’s Health globally.

The report indicates that premature death among males in Ireland is 40% higher when compared to females. The five leading causes of premature death amongst males in 2022 in Ireland were: cancers, diseases of the circulatory system; external causes of injury and poisoning, diseases of the respiratory system; and diseases of the digestive system.

The authors of the report are Dr Noel Richardson, Director of the National Centre for Men’s Health (NCMH) at Southeast Technological University (SETU), Dr Ashling McGrath Lecturer in Health Promotion at SETU and Mr Colin Fowler, Director of Operations, MHFI

The report focuses on the connections between gender and health. On average, globally, men die younger than women, while women spend a greater portion of their lives in poor health and with disabilities compared to men. Underdiagnosis of coronary heart disease is one area where woman’s health is underserved. Trans people have disproportionately worse health than the general population. Accordingly, health promotion is crucial throughout the population.

The conditions which lead to premature death or poor health are largely avoidable through improved screening, earlier diagnosis and treatment, lifestyle modifications (e.g. improving diet, weight control and exercise, reducing tobacco and alcohol use) together with adopting health promotion messages and utilising disease prevention services.

Dr John McNamara, Teagasc Health and Safety Specialist, states that the Irish Movember report does not   deal with any specific occupational group such as farmers. However, Irish studies consistently indicate that farmers have poorer mortality outcomes than other occupational groups.   For instance, the recent ERSI Report: ‘Unequal Chances? Inequalities in Mortality in Ireland’ found that farmers and agricultural workers have by far the highest Standard Mortality Ratios of all Socioeconomic Groups.

The Irish Movember report provides data that indicates that health status varies significantly with level of economic deprivation for both men and women, however a more severe impact occurs among men with the gap doubling with the most deprived areas. The leading risk factors for poor health include limited access to timely healthcare or early detection healthcare, poor diet, smoking or excessive alcohol use.

Commenting on the issue of economic deprivation, Dr McNamara stated that assisting farmers to gain economic sustainability is a major objective of advisory services, which can have a positive knock-on effect on farmer health. Additionally, he stated that ‘Irish research studies have shown that poor farmer health and disability leads to farm income reduction and lower levels of Off-Farm Employment leading to farm household income reduction’.

Throughout the Irish Movember report a series of ‘What Works’ features are provided including:  Farm Advisory service engagement in Health Promotion; the ‘On Feirm Ground’ project where Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)/ Department of Health sponsored training of advisors and persons providing services to farmers (e.g. Vets, Agri-branch staff) to signpost farmers towards health services and ‘Farmers have Hearts’ Cardiovascular Health Check Programmes at Marts and Shows.

The  Irish Movember report can  be  accessed at https://ie.movember.com/movember-institute/the-real-face-of-mens-health-report  while the ERSI Report ‘Unequal Chances ?  Inequalities in Mortality in Ireland’ can be found at https://www.esri.ie/publications/unequal-chances-inequalities-in-mortality-in-ireland