Knowledge, Attitude And Practices About Prostate Cancer Among Men In The Awutu Senya East Municipality

ABSTRACT Background: Prostate cancer is the number one cancer afflicting men in Africa and a leading cancer killer among Ghanaian men. Although there is scarcity of information on the disease in African men, higher awareness with related low levels on knowledge, attitudes and perception of self-risk to the disease is established among urban men in West Africa. Objective: This study seeks to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of men in the Awutu-Senya East Municipality on prostate cancer Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was designed among men aged 18 years or above in the Awutu Senya district of the Central region. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Summary statistics were presented using tables and charts. Chi square test was used to determine the statistical association between dependent and independent variables of interest. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratios of factors that influence level of knowledge, attitude and practices of prostate cancer. Results: The proportion of respondents with high knowledge on prostate cancer was 63.5%. Those with a positive attitude toward prostate cancer formed 47.7% of respondents while those with good practices related to prostate cancer formed 57.8% of respondents. The factors associated with positive attitude toward prostate cancer were unemployment relative to being self-employed (AOR=4.15; 95% CI: 1.31, 13.11, p= 0.015), average income of GHS 501-1,000 (AOR= 3.83; 95% CI: 1.23, 11.88, p= 0.02), GHS 1,001-2,000 (AOR= 4.14; 95% CI: 1.24, 13.80, p=0.021) and above GHS 2,000 v (AOR= 6.12, 95% CI: 1.66, 22.57, p= 0.007) relative to earning GHS or less; drinking alcohol (AOR= 2.13; 95% CI: 1.13, 4.02, p= 0.019); and having high level of knowledge (AOR= 3.01; 95% CI: 1.51, 5.97, p= 0.002). Conclusion: Overall knowledge on PC relatively appreciable but knowledge on symptoms and risk were low. Factors that influenced level on prostate cancer knowledge were civil/public servants, cohabiting with a partner, and attitude toward prostate cancer. Poor perception of risk is one main negative attitude towards prostate cancer. Factors associated with attitude towards prostate cancer were unemployment, average monthly income, alcohol drinking status and level of knowledge. Low uptake of screening, and poor dietary adjustments were the main poor practices identified. The factor significantly associated with practices related to prostate cancer was smoking status.