Medicine and Clinical Science

Awareness, Perception and Practice Towards Prostate Cancer Screening Among Adult Male Residents in Ilorin East Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

Muhammed Mubashir Babatunde Uthman,

Muhammed Mubashir Babatunde Uthman

Department of Epidemiology and Community, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria.

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Olawale Ojo-Rowland,

Olawale Ojo-Rowland

College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria.

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Sarah Oreoluwa Olukorode,

Sarah Oreoluwa Olukorode

College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria.

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Oluwatobiloba Elizabeth Adejumo,

Oluwatobiloba Elizabeth Adejumo

College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria.

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Olayinka Ibukunoluwa Olatunbosun,

Olayinka Ibukunoluwa Olatunbosun

College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria.

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Khadijah Kikelomo Adebiyi

Khadijah Kikelomo Adebiyi

College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria.

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  10.33425/2690-5191.1167 Published: 20 Oct, 2026
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Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer is a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among men globally and is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in Nigeria and despite the availability of effective screening methods such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital rectal examination (DRE), uptake of screening remains low leading to late presentation which contributes substantially to mortality Objectives: This study assessed the awareness, perception, and practice of prostate cancer screening among adult male residents of Ilorin East Local Government Area (LGA), Kwara State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adult males aged 40 years and above in Ilorin East LGA. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing awareness, perception, and screening practices related to prostate cancer. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 232 respondents were analyzed from 245 distributed questionnaires, giving a response rate of 94.7%. Although 75.4% of respondents had previously heard about prostate cancer, disease-specific knowledge was inadequate: only 48.7% were aware of available screening services, and just 25.4% had ever discussed prostate cancer with a healthcare provider. While 86.6% expressed willingness to undergo screening, only 3.88% had ever been screened. Major barriers included absence of symptoms (76.3%), low perceived susceptibility (19.0%), and fear of diagnosis (14.7%). Occupation and ethnicity were significantly associated with awareness and perception, while age, marital status, and occupation were significantly associated with screening uptake (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Prostate cancer screening uptake remains very low despite relatively high general awareness and willingness to screen. Strengthened health education, improved healthcare-provider counselling, addressing misconceptions, and enhanced access to affordable screening services are needed to promote early detection and reduce the burden of prostate cancer in the study population.