Community Education Programmes for Awareness Creation and Prevention of Prostate Cancer among men in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study examined the effectiveness of community education programmes in enhancing awareness and prevention of prostate cancer among men in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria. The study was guided by three research questions. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 1,489 men and oncologists comprising 18 Oncologists in the two tertiary hospitals in Rivers State and 1,471 members of Community Based Men Organizations in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State. A sample size of 459 was drawn consisting of 18 Oncologists and 441 members of community-based men organizations in the study area. The sample size of the men was determined using Taro Yamane formula. However, the stratified proportionate sampling technique was used in sampling 20% of the population of members of community-based men organizations in the study area. A questionnaire titled “Community Education Programmes for Awareness Creation and Prevention of Prostate Cancer Questionnaire (CEPACPPCQ)” was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts in the Department of Adult Education and Community Development. A test of internal consistency was carried out using Cronbach Alpha method to establish the reliability of the instrument. Reliability coefficients 0.81, 0.78 and 0.83 were obtained for the three clusters of the instrument. Data collected was analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The mean and standard deviation were used in answering the research questions. Data was collected from oncologists and members of community-based men's organizations using a questionnaire. The findings revealed that all three types of programmes significantly enhanced awareness and prevention efforts to a high extent. Community health extension programmes improved knowledge and screening rates, while basic literacy programmes enabled better access to and understanding of health information. Mass media-based education was found effective in disseminating information and promoting preventive behaviours. The study recommended amongst others that similar community education programmes be expanded to other regions within Rivers State and Nigeria at large. The government, in collaboration with healthcare organizations, should ensure these programmes are accessible to men in both urban and rural areas to increase the overall impact on prostate cancer awareness and prevention.