Perceptions And Attitudes About Prostate Cancer Among Male Teachers In The Sunyani Municipalitycdr

ABSTRACT Prostate cancer is rated the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the world and in Ghana, the most frequently diagnosed cancer among men. Studies have identified low awareness and lack of knowledge, perceptions, and negative attitudes toward PC as barriers to screening for PC and thus early detection of the disease. This has resulted in the disease been diagnosed at advanced stages which have no better treatment outcomes. This cross sectional descriptive study examined the perceptions and attitudes of male teachers in the Sunyani Municipality about PC by examining perceptions of PC, assessing knowledge about the causes, symptoms and treatment of PC and examining PC attitudes about early detection of PC. The study employed a structured questionnaire to collect data on knowledge, perceptions and attitudes toward PC, and was conducted among 160 male teachers in the Sunyani Municipality who were aged 45 to 60 years. Data entry and analysis was done using STATA 12. The study found high awareness and knowledge on PC, good perception about PC and positive attitude towards PC screening among male teachers in the Sunyani Municipality. The study found television and radio as the major sources of information on PC. Socio-demographics were found not to be associated with knowledge and perceptions about PC, and attitudes toward PC screening. Knowledge of PC was found to influence perceptions about PC (OR 9.12; 95% CI, 1.88- 44.42) and attitudes toward PC screening (OR 4.23; 95% CI, 1.74-10.28), however, perceptions (OR 1.69; 95% CI, 0.52-5.55) did not influence attitudes toward PC screening. The study concludes that educational campaigns should be aimed at increasing the knowledge level of PC for all the adult male population above 35 years irrespective of their educational backgrounds. This may help encourage more males to screen for PC.