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Abstract LB-359: Knowledge of prostate cancer and screening attitude of residents of a Nigerian community

Iweala, E. E. J. and Omonhinmin, Conrad A. and Azuh, Dominic E. and Okwudi, Isioma J. (2016) Abstract LB-359: Knowledge of prostate cancer and screening attitude of residents of a Nigerian community. In: Proceedings: AACR 107th Annual Meeting, April 16-20, 2016, New Orleans, LA.

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Abstract

This study assessed the level of awareness and knowledge of prostate cancer amongst the residents of a Nigerian University and its environs. A cross-sectional descriptive study using self-administered questionnaires was carried out among 443 people, aged 20 to 80 residing in Covenant University, Nigeria and its environs. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 15.0. The level of significance was set at p <0.05. The majority (45.1%) of respondents was aged between 31 - 40 years and only 41.3% were aware of the existence of Prostate cancer. Educational background, occupation and religion were observed to significantly increase (p <0.05) awareness of prostate cancer while gender and age did not. The awareness and previous participation in prostate cancer screening negatively (p <0.05) influenced respondents’ decision to participate in future screening. Electronic media via radio and television was the commonest source of awareness for prostate cancer. Only 13.4% became aware through health facility or personnel. Only 30.5% correctly identified the location of the prostate. Most of the respondents identified poor diet and environmental conditions as risk factors while 13.7%, 2.0% and 5.9% identified aging, race and genetics respectively as the causes of prostate cancer. Most of the respondents (31.2%) correctly identified difficult urination as a symptom of prostate cancer. About 30.8% have a relative, family or friend that had prostate cancer out of which 18.5% resulted in deaths. Only one respondent had been previously diagnosed with an enlarged prostate. Majority of the respondents were unaware of a possible cure or therapy. Only 9.9%, of the respondents strongly agreed that prostate cancer was peculiar to all men while a low percentage (4.1%) of respondents strongly agreed that it is a health disparity issue among black men. Over all a very low percentage of 37.9% of the respondents considered prostate cancer to be a serious ailment. The study showed a generally poor knowledge and wrong conceptions about prostate cancer, screening and treatment. This suggests the need for public health education and screening programs on prostate cancer for this population and others.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences
Depositing User: Mrs Patricia Nwokealisi
Date Deposited: 28 Jan 2019 14:27
Last Modified: 28 Jan 2019 14:27
URI: http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/12333

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