Cancer related morbidity and mortality continues to pose grave health challenge to men globally with increasing prevalence especially in developing countries. Presently prostate cancer has been reported to have a prevalence level of 11% in Nigeria which is considered alarming. Developing strategies to forestall increasing incidence and prevalence are vital to reducing the deleterious effects prostate cancer on health and national developmental efforts. Research oriented strategies are considered potent measures to achieving this goal thus making research into factors associated with prostate cancer an important endeavour. It is against this background that this study was designed to examine knowledge and utilization of prostate cancer screening services among civil servants in Iseyin LGA of Oyo State, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was employed in the study and data were collected using a self developed and validated questionnaire with a reliability of 0.86 Cronbach alpha. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages. Findings showed that respondents have low level of knowledge and low utilization level of prostate cancer screening services. Findings also identified cost, accessibility, work schedule and some fads like negative effect on sexual activities as perceived factors militating against the utilization of prostate cancer screening services. Addressing the identified issues using education as a tool among others were recommended.
Keywords: Barrier, Education, Knowledge, Prostate Cancer, Screening, Utilization
