Awareness of Prostate Cancer among Male Soldiers in the Ghana Armed Forces

Abstract

Prostate cancer is a significant public health problem. The disease is potentially curable if diagnosed and treated at it‟s early stages but there is seeming lack of awareness with regard to individual risk, perceived risk factors, screening and treatment options. A cross-sectional study was conducted among male soldiers of the Ghana Armed Forces to assess their general awareness, knowledge and attitude towards Prostate Cancer and its early detection.10 units from 5 Garrison in Accra were purposively selected to reflect the diversities of the services of the Ghana Armed Forces. The study population were the senior commissioned officers (Officers) and senior non-commissioned officers (Other ranks). A sample of four hundred and twenty-four male soldiers was selected using the convenience sampling technique. The respondents who participated in the study ranged between the ages of 30 to 59 with a mean age of 39.66 years. Respondents were asked to fill a self-administered Prostate Cancer Questionnaire. The findings of the study were that; the level of awareness of prostate cancer was poor although a majority had heard about it, the knowledge base of the participants and the attitude towards early detection of prostate cancer were poor. The Public health department of the Ghana Armed Forces Medical Service should therefore be empowered to mount up campaigns to create awareness of prostate cancer among troops. Screening for prostate cancer should be added to the yearly medical examinations that Military personnel are made to undergo especially for men who are at risk. More research should be done in the area of prostate cancer within the Ghana Armed Forces and the in Ghana as a whole.