Testicular Cancer and Testicular Self-examination: An Investigation into the Degree of Knowledge and Practices of Self-care among Nigerian Male Non-health Undergraduates
Published: 2023-07-11
Page: 54-61
Issue: 2023 - Volume 6 [Issue 1]
Friday Emeakpor Ogbetere *
Department of Surgery, College of Medical Sciences, Edo State University, Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria.
Yemihan Nwannebuife Ogbetere
Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Purpose: Testicular cancer (TC) is a malignant tumour that commonly affects young men in their second and third decades of life. Regular testicular self-examination (TSE) results in early detection and treatment of TC. This study was conducted to assess the degree of knowledge and practice of TC and TSE among male non-health undergraduate students of Edo north senatorial district of Edo state, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at a higher institution in Edo state. The research population consisted of non-medical students of the institution, selected by convenient sampling techniques, and structured self-administered questionnaires were used. The data were analyzed using Statistical Programming for Social Sciences version 22 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, United States). P < 0.05 was regarded as significant.
Results: Only about half (50.2%) of the students participants of the research have heard of TC. The majority (65.8%) of them had never heard of TSE. Forty-six participants (20.4%) knew the frequency of carrying out TSE and 43 (19.1%) had practiced it. The participants’ age (P=0.005) and year of study (P=0.005) are the two statistically significant sociodemographic variables that contributed to the level of knowledge about TSE. The majority (58.2%) of the respondents showed a favourable knowledge about TC and carrying out TSE.
Conclusion: The knowledge of TC and TSE is low among the students. We recommended the inclusion of these themes in the general studies curriculum of undergraduates.
Keywords: Testicular cancer, gonadal self-examination, practice, undergraduates, Nigeria
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References
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