Abstract

Background: Global public health concerns on the morbidity and mortality associated with prostate cancer are high especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Screening has been proposed to significantly reduce mortality by promoting early diagnosis and curbing late presentation with advance disease. There’s dearth of data on knowledge and prostate cancer screening uptake in rural settings in Nigeria. This study aims to assess the knowledge and prostate cancer screening uptake among rural dwellers in Boki, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Objective: Was to assess the level of knowledge of prostate cancer, awareness of prostate cancer screening and uptake of screening services in the study area.
Materials and method: A cross sectional descriptive study design was employed and 420 participants were recruited using multistage sampling technique and a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire to extract information from the participants.
Result: 292 (72.1%) had no knowledge of prostate cancer, 355 (87.9%) were unaware of prostate cancer screening while 40 (80%) of those that are aware have never been screened for prostate cancer. 7(70%) of those that have been screened before have not gone for follow-up screening in the last 12 months. 324(80.0%) blamed non- accessibility of screening centers, while 311(76.8%) had issues of distance from health facilities
Conclusion: There was poor knowledge of prostate cancer and awareness of prostate cancer screening opportunities and very low uptake of screening services among the adult male population of the study area.

Key words: prostate cancer, screening uptake, knowledge, rural community