Maison Patrick Opoku Manu, Arkoh Prince, Sani Ahmed, Mensah-Baidoo Emmanuel Ekow, Owusu Gifty, Danso Esther Yeboah, Koufie Nana Benyin, Andzie Susanna, Gyamfi Perez, Omane Emmanuel, Antwi Sylvester, Palanisamy Nallasivam, Hwang Clara, Walker Eleanor, Ofori Aboah Valerie, Jiagge Evelyn Mawunyo
Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 7;15(1):1051. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-85180-2.
Traditional medicine is widely used in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ghana, where it is commonly integrated with modern orthodox medicine. This study examines the barriers that delay the pursuit of orthodox medical care for prostate cancer (PCa) in Ghana's Central region, where a blend of traditional and modern orthodox medicine exists. The preference for indigenous traditional medicine often results in late-stage presentations of PCa, adversely affecting patient outcomes. This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2022 at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) and in four local communities. We investigated why men prefer traditional over orthodox medicine and identified cultural beliefs, attitudes, and gaps in health awareness that contribute to delays in diagnosing and treating PCa. The study involved administering questionnaires, providing education on PCa, and conducting free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Research Committee of the Ghana Health Service. A total of 282 patients participated, including 268 men from the communities and 14 diagnosed with PCa at CCTH after initially consulting traditional healers. Of the community-recruited patients who underwent PSA testing, 26% had elevated PSA levels and underwent further diagnostic procedures. Ultimately, nine of 268 community patients were confirmed to have PCa. Most patients (57.4%) had limited education, which correlated with late presentations and various misconceptions about PCa. The study highlights significant cultural and economic barriers that lead to the late-stage presentation of PCa among men in Ghana's Central region. There is a critical need for a culturally sensitive, multi-pronged strategy that enhances public education about the benefits of early diagnosis and fosters collaboration between traditional healers and orthodox healthcare providers to improve prostate cancer outcomes in Ghana.
传统医学在撒哈拉以南非洲广泛使用，尤其是在加纳，在那里它通常与现代正统医学相结合。本研究调查了在加纳中部地区，延误寻求前列腺癌（PCa）正统医疗护理的障碍，该地区存在传统医学与现代正统医学的融合。对本土传统医学的偏好常常导致前列腺癌晚期就诊，对患者的治疗结果产生不利影响。这项前瞻性横断面研究于2022年7月至12月在海岸角教学医院（CCTH）和四个当地社区进行。我们调查了男性为何更喜欢传统医学而非正统医学，并确定了导致前列腺癌诊断和治疗延误的文化信仰、态度以及健康意识方面的差距。该研究包括发放问卷、提供前列腺癌教育以及进行免费的前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）筛查。获得了加纳卫生服务伦理研究委员会的伦理批准。共有282名患者参与，其中包括来自社区的268名男性以及14名在最初咨询传统治疗师后在CCTH被诊断为前列腺癌的患者。在接受PSA检测的社区招募患者中，26%的患者PSA水平升高并接受了进一步的诊断程序。最终，268名社区患者中有9人被确诊患有前列腺癌。大多数患者（57.4%）教育程度有限，这与晚期就诊以及对前列腺癌的各种误解相关。该研究凸显了导致加纳中部地区男性前列腺癌晚期就诊的重大文化和经济障碍。迫切需要一种具有文化敏感性的多管齐下策略，以加强关于早期诊断益处的公众教育，并促进传统治疗师与正统医疗服务提供者之间的合作，从而改善加纳前列腺癌的治疗结果。
