Knowledge, Perceived Risk and Barriers to Testicular Self Examination: the Case of Male University Students in Uganda

Testicular cancer is a deadly disease that affects a growing number of men worldwide each year. The disease strikes when men are young and in their most productive years. Testicular Cancer is the most common cause of cancer among men aged 15 to 35 years and it has been reported to be on the increase. Testicular Cancer is highly treatable and often curable once diagnosed early therefore all men should be aware of its symptoms. The main objective of the study was to determine the knowledge about testicular cancer, perceived risk for testicular cancer and testicular cancer preventive practices of University male students aged 18 years and above in Uganda. The study employed a descriptive cross sectional design. The study was conducted among Makerere University male students aged 18 to 32 years residing in Lumumba Hall, University Hall and Nkrumah Halls of residence. Systematic random sampling was used to obtain the 323 participants. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data over a period of two months. Data was analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software package.