Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Prostate Cancer Screening Amongst Men Aged 40-60 Years in The Buea Health District: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Prostate cancer is a significant global health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where late diagnosis is common. It is the second most diagnosed cancer among men and contributes substantially to cancer-related deaths. In Cameroon, prostate cancer is the second most deadly cancer among men, highlighting the need for improved awareness and screening practices.
Objective: The objective of the study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices towards prostate cancer screening among men aged 40-60 years in the Buea Health District.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Buea Health District, Cameroon, from February 2024 to May 2024. A multi-stage sampling method was used to recruit 314 men aged 40-60 years. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0.
Results: The study revealed that 62.74% of participants had poor knowledge on prostate cancer, while 50.32% exhibited positive attitudes towards screening. However, only 3.18% reported good practices regarding screening. Participants from Molyko were 4.637 times more likely to have poor knowledge (AOR = 4.637; CI: 0.79-6.28; p < 0.001). Participants from Molyko were significantly more likely to have a positive attitude (AOR = 18.556; CI: 6.897-20.944; p < 0.001). Secondary education level (AOR = 2.807; CI: 0.327-3.865; p = 0.004) and being aged 40–49 years (AOR = 0.467; CI: -1.335-0.972; p = 0.009) were also significant predictors. Self-employed participants were significantly less likely to have poor practices (AOR = 0.046; CI: -5.00-0.250; p = 0.002). Participants aged 40–49 years were more likely to have poor practices compared to those aged 50–60 years (AOR = 5.828; CI: 0.13-9.39; p = 0.034).
Conclusion: Most participants had poor knowledge and practices but a relatively positive attitude towards prostate cancer screening. Key predictors of KAP included health area, income, education level, employment status, and age group. Targeted educational and behavioral interventions are needed to bridge knowledge gaps and improve screening practices.

Attitudes, Knowledge, Practices, Prostate cancer screening

1. Maladze N, Maphula A, Maluleke M, Makhado L. Knowledge and Attitudes towards Prostate Cancer and Screening among Males in Limpopo Province, South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023;20(6):5220. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Tian J-Y, Guo F-J, Zheng G-Y, Ahmad A. Prostate cancer: updates on current strategies for screening, diagnosis and clinical implications of treatment modalities. Carcinogenesis. 2018;39(3):307–17. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Rawla P. Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer. World Journal of Oncology. 2019;10(2):63–89. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Pabame HK, Kamdje AHN, Simo RT, Sillong FD. Study of the Prevalence and the Incidence of the Prostate Cancer in the North-Cameroon: Means and Costs of Management. Journal of Cancer Research Updates. 2018;7(2):41–8. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Ugochukwu UV, Odukoya OO, Ajogwu A, Ojewola RW. Prostate cancer screening: what do men know, think and do about their risk? exploring the opinions of men in an urban area in Lagos State, Nigeria: a mixed methods survey. Pan African Medical Journal. 2019;34(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Ernest K, Saleh R, Rodrigue P, Matthew D, Nazarius L, Oghenekome O. Prostate cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among men in Bamenda, Cameroon. International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN. 2017;6(4):339–49. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Nakwafila O. Knowledge and attitudes towards prostate cancer screening amongst men in Oshana region, Namibia [Internet] [Thesis]. University of Namibia; 2017. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Alothman AM, Altamimi AF, Alhenaki AW, Almansour NM, Alhusaini AK, Alateeq F. The knowledge and attitude towards prostate cancer and screening practices among males in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 2022;11(6):2637. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Ugochukwu UV, Odukoya OO, Ajogwu A, Ojewola RW. Prostate cancer screening: what do men know, think and do about their risk? Exploring the opinions of men in an urban area in Lagos State, Nigeria: a mixed methods survey. Pan African Medical Journal. 2019;34(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Bugoye FC, Leyna GH, Moen K, Mmbaga EJ. Knowledge, Perceived Risk and Utilization of Prostate Cancer Screening Services among Men in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Prostate Cancer. 2019;2019:e2463048. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Ogunbiyi JO, Shittu OB. Increased incidence of prostate cancer in Nigerians. Journal of the National Medical Association. 1999;91(3):159–64. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Morlando M, Pelullo CP, Giuseppe GD. Prostate cancer screening: Knowledge, attitudes and practices in a sample of men in Italy. A survey. PLOS ONE. 2017;12(10):e0186332. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Parsons JK, Newman V, Mohler JL, Pierce JP, Paskett E, Marshall J. The Men’s Eating and Living (MEAL) Study: A Cancer and Leukemia Group B Pilot Trial of Dietary Intervention for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer. Urology. 2008;72(3):633–7. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Huggins C, Hodges CV. Studies on prostatic cancer. I. The effect of castration, of estrogen and androgen injection on serum phosphatases in metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians. 1972;22(4):232–40. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Tribal Child Nutrition and Health in District of Sundargarh: A Public Health Review of ICDS Intervention
• Compliance with JCI Protocols: A Focus on Employee Safety
• Influence and Involvement of Teachers in Menstrual Hygiene Management of Female Secondary School Students in Kogi State, Nigeria
• A Critical Evaluation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in Bihar
• Knowledge, Attitude, And Practices on Antenatal Care Among Pregnant Women in Selected Health Birthing Centers in Butuan City