REDUCING THE BURDEN OF PROSTATE CANCER IN NIGERIA THROUGH

ADDRESSING MEN'S DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

O.A.Moronkola PhDHealth Education Unit, Dept. Of Human Kinetics

&Health Education, University Of Ibadan Email: walemoronkola@yahoo.com

Abstract

It is a known fact that x-raying  contextual issues are important in analysing human phenomenon or problem. In this review paper, various determinants of health like income, education, physical environment, social support network, genetics and health services are highlighted and strategies needed in prevention and treatment against prostate cancer in Nigeria are discussed.

Introduction

.Men’s health are less discussed or given attention in most spheres of life despite the fact that they are prone to many health problems due to unhealthy behaviour or causes like tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor diet consumption, over speeding, late or irregular health care seeking or poor utilization of health facility, risk taking, denial of ill health conditions, unemployment, underemployment and stress. .Since they also fail to utilize health care services unless mostly at critical times, they are less provided for in many health care systems as women and children for obvious reasons since most reproductive health burden are on women..Looking at the role of men in health programmes ,services research, planning and delivery generally and for women specifically as well as a key factor surrounding decision making on reproductive issues concerning women in and at home front especially in developing countries the health of men also needs serious attention by relevant stake holders. Cancer is a public health problem of great importance in Africa with great challenge in confronting it.

Review of Literature

Prostate cancer continues to be the most significant cancer common among men of African descent ..It is a major public health problem in developing countries . .It requires ,global effort and collaborations among relevant stakeholders like prostate cancer scientists, clinicians, survivors and advocates for better understanding of the etiology of prostate cancer among at-risk black men, and develop effective interventions to address these disparities [1]

Cont’

.Risk factors for prostate cancer are age, family history of prostate cancer and African ancestry and it is this last factor that risk factor that makes prostate cancer an urgent chronic disease needing attention in Africa.. Other risk factors of prostate cancer are diet high in processed meat, dairy foods, and obesity [3]. Based on literature review there is a three-fold higher mortality rate for prostate cancer among patients in African countries when compared to patients in the United States and Europe which has been partly attributed to socio-economic factors , inadequate access to healthcare and differences in genetic susceptibility [4].

Cont’

.Prevalence of prostatic diseases is reportedly high in Nigeria and presentation at health facility is usually late in some cases, the prevalence is comparable to figures from industrialised countries.. This situation is compounded as the research and policy responses in Nigeria are regrettably inadequate and there is a limited appreciation of recent trends in prostatic diseases which may be partly responsible for this situation. Healthcare budgetary allocations is meager yearly, it is pertinent to develop a properly thought-out plan for the prevention and management of prostatic diseases in Nigeria [5, 6, 7, 8]

Addressing Men's Determinants of Health to Reduce the Burden of

Prostate Cancer in Nigeriai. Incomeii. Educationiii. Environmentiv. Social support networkv. Geneticsvii. Health care servicesviii. Lifestyle

Prostate cancer strategies needed

i. Improvement in education of boys and men through formal and non-formal education

ii . Making the environment safe and specifically pollutants freeiii. Strengthening prostate cancer registrationiv. Capacity building of health workers in the area of oncologyv. Scaling up of school and community health education against

cancer and health risk behaviours.vi Vigorous prostate cancer advocacy using bottom up approach.vii. Capacity building and favourable research environment for

prostate cancer scientist with particular emphasis on pharmaceutical products, genetics and ethics.

viii. Training of health workers at all levels in the area of prevention, management of prostate cancer and attitude to patients, their friends and family members.

 

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