Determinants of prostate specific antigen screening test uptake in an urban community in North-Central Nigeria

Background: Despite the increasing incidence of Prostate cancer, there has not been any focused screening policy or strategy in sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria.Objectives: To assess the level of awareness and uptake of PSA screening test and their determinants in a Nigerian community.Methods: A cross-sectional population survey of men with no prior history of prostate cancer was carried out. Logistic re- gression analysis was used to determine the effect of identified variables in predicting awareness and uptake of prostate cancer screening.Results: Mean age was 51.5±9.8 years; a few men (31, 16.9%) had ever heard of the screening test and most got the information from health centers. A low proportion (8, 4.4%) had taken the screening test. Men with incomes above poverty line (OR = 11.7 2.8–50.1, p = .001) or those with health insurance (OR = 2.7 1.2–6.5, p = .023) were significantly more likely to be aware of the test. Only the men with higher incomes (OR = 25.6 5.8–114.2, p = .0001) were significantly more likely to have taken the test.Conclusion: Higher incomes and health insurance status impact screening awareness but only income status determines if men subsequently proceed to take the PSA screening test.Keywords: Prostate cancer; PSA screening; sub-Saharan Africa; Nigeria