Exploring the Knowledge, Perception and Uptake of Prostrate Cancer Screening among Men Aged 40 Years and above in Owerri West, Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria

Prostate cancer is a major public health issue associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality among adults. Despite earlier research indicating limited community uptake of prostate cancer screening, no studies on male population above 40 years in Imo State have been conducted. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception and uptake of prostate cancer screening among men aged 40 years and above in Owerri West. A cross-sectional study design was employed for the study. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Multistage sampling technique was adopted for this study in recruiting 439 men aged 40 years and above in Owerri West LGA who participated in the study. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 was used in the analysis of the data. Results from the study showed that 257(58.5%) of the respondents were between the age of 55 and 69 years. From the study, 305(69.5%) of the respondents have never heard about prostate cancer screening. Also, 165(37.6%) of adult men believed it is right to go for prostrate screening irrespective of the symptoms. The study revealed that 289(65.8%) of the respondents have never screened for prostate cancer prior this study. Age (p< 0.001), marital status (p= 0.001), parity (p< 0.001), health plan (p= 0.001), occupation (p< 0.001) and level of income (< 0.001) were significantly associated with uptake of prostate cancer screening among men. The study concluded that the level of knowledge about prostate cancer and screening services is low among men in Owerri Municipal LGA. Utilization of screening services for prostate cancer are rare in this population. This is associated with poor perceived disease risk. It is advocated that relevant stakeholders should ensure that proper and consistent health education is provided