Prostate cancer screening knowledge and attitude among men over 50 at a referral Hospital in Oshana region, Namibia

Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer in men and fourth in causing cancer-related deaths in both men and women in Africa.

The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and attitudes about prostate cancer screening among men over 50 years.

The study setting is Intermediate Hospital Oshakati.

A quantitative cross-sectional design was adopted. Census sampling was employed, and the data were collected through the use of a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed with the aid of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 using frequencies and percentages, and Chi-square test of association.

Majority of the respondents were knowledgeable about prostate cancer except in questionnaire items 3, 12 and 13 in which they (71.8%, 82.4% and 94.7%, respectively) were not knowledgeable. In all the items of the questionnaire, majority of the respondents had positive attitudes towards prostate cancer screening. The percentages of the positive attitude range from 80% to 95% across all the items. There is no significant association between the respondents' prostate cancer screening knowledge and all the respondents' characteristics (age, level of education, marital status and religion), p > 0.05, respectively. There is no significant association between respondents' prostate cancer screening attitude and all the respondents' characteristics, p > 0.05, respectively.

The survey respondents were knowledgeable about prostate cancer screening, except when it comes to the different methods of diagnosing prostate cancer, what happens to the prostate gland in prostate cancer and who should be screened for prostate cancer.

The results from this study can be used by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and its stakeholders to create a baseline data which help to develop appropriate preventative measures and awareness programmes. Furthermore, this study can be used to identify possible reasons for the late reporting of men for PCa screening and aid to inform the public on the need for early-seeking behaviour through screening.