Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Prostate enlargement is a progressive condition in men considered as a normal part of aging. The disease typically manifest with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and due to the presenting symptoms, it significantly decrease patient quality of life and causes huge social financial problems in approximately one third of men above 50 years. In the vast majority of cases the symptoms can be reduced or minimized by treatment. Studies shows that by the age of 60 years half of all men will have an enlarged prostate and by age of 85 years proportion reaches 90%.Prostate enlargement is a condition dependent of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone production and have multiple risk factors such as age,obesity,diabetes ,physical inactivity ,genetic predisposition and diet.

OBJECTIVE: To study the knowledge towards prostate enlargement among men attending outpatient clinics at Bugando medical center.

METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional hospital-based study which conducted on 2022.questionnaire were used to collect participant’s demographic and clinical information. Data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 20 computer program.

RESULTS: A total of 246 men attending the Bugando Medical Centre were recruited for the study. Majority of the respondents were married 167(67%), 74(30%) were the business men and most of them 86 (35%) were primary educated. Majority of the participants 227 (92%) heard about the prostate enlargement and most of them get information from others sources 113(46%).

DISCUSSION: This study found that majority of the participants 227 (92%) heard about the prostate enlargement and most of them get information from others sources 113(46%). The present study found prostate enlargement increases its risk as the ages increase about 73% this may be due to the increase of the proliferation cells which resulting to the enlarged prostate in the elderly

CONCLUSION: The level of knowledge on the prostate enlargement among men attending Bugando Medical Centre were moderate. This may be due to an inadequacy in the role of healthcare providers to educate their patients properly about prostate enlargement. Other sources of information apart from health services and mass media it’s the major source of information about prostate enlargement, this may be due to the social interaction that people have in the community helps to themselves to share information about the prostate enlargement.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The Ministry of Health at national and district levels, should promote information on the signs and symptoms, treatment and preventive measures of prostate enlargement that will enhance further awareness and knowledge of the disease .The Ministry of Health should expand screening services at health facilities and public health promotion to enhance uptake of prostate enlargement screening leading to improving the burden of the disease in Tanzania.