Knowledge, Practice, and Barriers Relating to Prostate Cancer Screening Among Male Undergraduate Students at Edo State University, Iyamho, Nigeria

Prostate cancer remains an important cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among men, while late presentation continues to undermine early detection and treatment outcomes in many low- and middle-income settings. Although most male university students are younger than the age at which routine prostate cancer screening is generally discussed, knowledge acquired in early adulthood may influence future health-seeking behaviour, risk perception, peer communication, and family health decisions. This study assessed knowledge, reported practice, and perceived barriers relating to prostate examination and prostate cancer screening among male undergraduate students at Edo State University, Iyamho, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 male undergraduates selected from a target population of 2,169 students using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed structured questionnaire and analysed with SPSS version 25 using frequencies, percentages, and mean scores. The grand mean for knowledge was 2.44, below the predefined criterion mean of 2.50, indicating inadequate knowledge. Only 35% of respondents identified digital rectal examination as being related to prostate examination and 38% recognized the examination position described in the questionnaire. Screening-related practice was also low: 25% reported ever performing what the original questionnaire termed self-prostate examination, 22% reported ever having or performing digital rectal examination, 22.5% reported current practice, 20% routine practice, and 21% previous prostate examination or screening by a nurse or physician. Feeling healthy or having no symptoms was the most frequently reported barrier (37%), followed by discomfort with the examination (24%), discomfort with body exposure (15%), embarrassment (14%), and being too busy (10%). The findings reveal important gaps in prostate cancer literacy and preventive health orientation among the respondents. University-based health promotion should therefore emphasize accurate information on prostate cancer risk, the distinction between symptoms and preventive assessment, evidence-based screening pathways, and the importance of professional clinical evaluation rather than unsupervised self-examination.