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Knowledge of Risk Factors and Practices Towards Prostate Cancer Prevention Among Men in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria
Subject area: Biological & Medical Sciences · Area of research: Health
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death among men in Nigeria, yet men's knowledge of its risk factors and their preventive practices in rural communities remain poorly documented. Guided by three objectives, this study (i) determined the level of knowledge of risk factors of prostate cancer, (ii) ascertained the practices towards prostate cancer prevention, and (iii) examined the difference in the level of knowledge of risk factors based on age, among men aged 40 years and above in Mbaitoli Local Government Area (LGA), Imo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. Using a three-stage sampling technique, 396 men were selected from four towns and twelve villages in the LGA. Data were collected with a validated, structured questionnaire (test-retest reliability, r = 0.82) and analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and chi-square (χ²) at p<0.05. Results showed that respondents had an overall moderate knowledge (53.2%) of prostate cancer risk factors and demonstrated generally poor preventive practices (x̄ = 2.25 of a 4-point scale). Knowledge of risk factors differed significantly by age (χ² = 8.26, df = 2, p<0.05), with men aged 60 years and above recording the highest knowledge level (55.8%) and men aged 40–49 years the lowest (50.0%). The study concludes that moderate knowledge does not translate into good preventive practice among men in Mbaitoli LGA, and that age is a significant determinant of what men know about the disease. Community-based health education targeted at younger men, subsidised screening, and periodic follow-up evaluation are recommended to close this knowledge-practice gap.
Keywords
knowledge; men; practices; prevention; prostate cancer.
How to cite this paper
@article{1722695,
author = {Nwanesindu Nkiruka Augustina, Assoc. Prof. P. N. Njoku, Assoc. Prof. A. C. Ugwuoke},
title = {Knowledge of Risk Factors and Practices Towards Prostate Cancer Prevention Among Men in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {3},
pages = {93-100},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722695.pdf},
abstract = {Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related death among men in Nigeria, yet men's knowledge of its risk factors and their preventive practices in rural communities remain poorly documented. Guided by three objectives, this study (i) determined the level of knowledge of risk factors of prostate cancer, (ii) ascertained the practices towards prostate cancer prevention, and (iii) examined the difference in the level of knowledge of risk factors based on age, among men aged 40 years and above in Mbaitoli Local Government Area (LGA), Imo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was adopted. Using a three-stage sampling technique, 396 men were selected from four towns and twelve villages in the LGA. Data were collected with a validated, structured questionnaire (test-retest reliability, r = 0.82) and analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and chi-square (χ²) at p<0.05. Results showed that respondents had an overall moderate knowledge (53.2%) of prostate cancer risk factors and demonstrated generally poor preventive practices (x̄ = 2.25 of a 4-point scale). Knowledge of risk factors differed significantly by age (χ² = 8.26, df = 2, p<0.05), with men aged 60 years and above recording the highest knowledge level (55.8%) and men aged 40–49 years the lowest (50.0%). The study concludes that moderate knowledge does not translate into good preventive practice among men in Mbaitoli LGA, and that age is a significant determinant of what men know about the disease. Community-based health education targeted at younger men, subsidised screening, and periodic follow-up evaluation are recommended to close this knowledge-practice gap.},
keywords = {knowledge; men; practices; prevention; prostate cancer.},
month = {September},
}