Men in rural Nigeria have a poor perception of prostate cancer risk; Hence they seldom seek screening.

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to investigate the behavioral and social factors that underlie the risk perception and screening behavior of prostate cancer (PCa) among rural men in Southwest Nigeria.

METHODS

The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. To investigate the behavioral and social factors associated with men's screening behavior in rural communities, the study utilized an interviewer-administered questionnaire. A sample of 384 men who lived in six rural communities across Southwest Nigeria participated in the study. Constructs of the Health Belief Model provided theoretical framing. Key variables were the demographics, screening behavior, knowledge of PCa, and perception of PCa risk. Data analysis tools were descriptive (simple percentages) and multiple regression at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

About 49.7% were age 31-40, most of the men in the rural communities (64.1%) did not have more than secondary school education, and about 48.7% owned their businesses. Exactly 56% earned less than 18,000 per month; 65.6% were Christians, and the majority (90.6%) were married, with most (60.2%) not having more than four children (≤4 children). Knowledge of PCa has a significant but weak relationship with PCa screening behavior (p = 0.02). Age (β = 0.014), religion (β = 0.052), and income (β = 0.010)/(β = 0.011) had predicted risk perception. Only income (β = 0.038) significantly influenced screening behavior.

CONCLUSION

There is a need to improve PCa awareness and knowledge to address risk perception fears and encourage increased screening behavior among men in rural areas.