Prostate cancer screening awareness among Basotho males aged 40 and above in Maseru, Lessotho

Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer is among the most treacherous cancers, ranked 1st common cancer among males globally. Globocan (2020) ranked prostate cancer the 3rd most common cancer among all cancers in Lesotho, reporting 163 new cases, which made 8.7% of the total incidences of all cancers in the country. Lesotho, through the Ministry of Health, attests to lack of proper documentation of all cancer cases including prostate cancer. Prostate cancer prevalence is higher in developed countries; however, prostate cancer related mortality is higher in developing countries, particularly among black males, than their white counter parts due to late diagnosis. Knowledge about prostate cancer and screening awareness are useful for promotion of early screening uptake among Basotho males. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore prostate cancer screening (PCa) awareness among Basotho males aged 40 and above. Prostate cancer knowledge among these participants was also assessed. Methodology: Purposive sampling was used to select male participants among the entire male congregants in a Christian church. Semi structured interviews with open- ended questions which included demographic information, socio-economic data and prostate cancer and screening knowledge were administered by the researcher among the thirteen participants aged forty and above. Participants were enrolled without consideration of whether they had ever screened or not.Results: More than half of the participants were aware of prostate cancer as an illness but lacked enough knowledge about the disease and screening services offered in Lesotho. Urinal problems such as uncontrollable and painful urination, retention of urine and painful prostate were symptoms associated with the presence of prostate cancer by most participants. Majority of the participants had limited information about prostate cancer screening where digital rectal examination (DRE) was known by most participants. Participants were not aware of the jargon used to described DRE but rather as the screening process where a finger is inserted into a male’s rectum. Though the participants had limited knowledge about prostate cancer and screening awareness v majority of them were willing to be screened for prostate cancer. On the other hand, the disadvantages associated with DRE outweighed the benefits of screening rather demotivating actual screening uptake among the participants.