Table 4 Confidence, skills, and health-seeking behavior in relation to prostate cancer signs and symptoms among men in the Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa
Characteristics | Frequency (N = 431) | Percentage (100%) |
|---|---|---|
Health seeking behavior for prostate cancer | ||
Would you ignore symptoms of prostate cancer | ||
Don’t know | 39 | 9.1 |
No | 385 | 89.3 |
Yes | 7 | 1.6 |
Self-medicate if there are symptoms | ||
Don’t know | 43 | 10.0 |
No | 348 | 80.7 |
Yes | 40 | 9.3 |
Tell someone if there are symptoms | ||
Don’t know | 38 | 8.8 |
No | 97 | 22.5 |
Yes | 296 | 68.7 |
Who would you tell first | ||
Family | 125 | 29.0 |
Friend | 31 | 7.2 |
Partner | 127 | 29.5 |
Other | 148 | 34.3 |
Who would you consult with first | ||
Traditional healer | 69 | 16.0 |
Nurse at clinic/hospital | 166 | 38.5 |
Doctor at clinic/hospital | 89 | 20.7 |
Private GP/doctor | 57 | 13.2 |
Prophet/faith healer | 11 | 2.6 |
Other | 39 | 9.0 |
Visit a traditional healer if there are symptoms | ||
Don’t know | 35 | 8.1 |
No | 292 | 67.9 |
Yes | 103 | 24.0 |
If you had symptoms, how soon would you visit a traditional healer | ||
< 1 week | 65 | 63.7 |
1 week to < 1 month | 22 | 21.6 |
1 month to < 3 months | 10 | 9.8 |
3 months | 5 | 4.9 |
If you had symptoms, how soon would you visit a health center | ||
Never | 73 | 17.1 |
< 1 week | 236 | 55.1 |
1 week < 1 month | 87 | 20.3 |
1 month < 3 months | 13 | 3.0 |
3 months | 19 | 4.4 |
Confident in symptoms of prostate cancer | ||
Don’t know | 52 | 12.1 |
No | 163 | 37.8 |
Yes | 216 | 50.1 |
Visited healthcare workers for symptoms | ||
Don’t know | 110 | 25.5 |
No | 287 | 66.6 |
Yes | 34 | 7.9 |
Visited traditional healers for symptoms | ||
Don’t know | 111 | 25.8 |
No | 291 | 67.5 |
Yes | 29 | 6.7 |
Reasons do not visit healthcare workers | ||
Fear of the results | ||
Don’t know | 40 | 9.3 |
No | 321 | 74.5 |
Yes | 70 | 16.2 |
Fear of the procedure | ||
Don’t know | 40 | 9.4 |
No | 311 | 72.7 |
Yes | 77 | 17.9 |
Busy to go to healthcare centers | ||
Don’t know | 40 | 9.3 |
No | 337 | 78.2 |
Yes | 54 | 12.5 |
Long time spent at healthcare centers | ||
Don’t know | 39 | 9.1 |
No | 284 | 65.9 |
Yes | 108 | 25.1 |
No money for transport | ||
Don’t know | 39 | 9.1 |
No | 318 | 74.1 |
Yes | 72 | 16.8 |
No confidence in disclosing the problem | ||
Don’t know | 37 | 8.6 |
No | 318 | 73.8 |
Yes | 76 | 17.6 |
Past bad health experience | ||
Don’t know | 42 | 9.7 |
No | 295 | 68.5 |
Yes | 94 | 21.8 |
Feeling embarrassed | ||
Don’t know | 37 | 8.6 |
No | 334 | 77.5 |
Yes | 60 | 13.9 |
Cultural barrier with healthcare workers | ||
Don’t know | 40 | 9.3 |
No | 354 | 82.1 |
Yes | 37 | 8.6 |
No use going to healthcare center | ||
Don’t know | 42 | 9.7 |
No | 334 | 77.5 |
Yes | 55 | 12.8 |
Things that are not discussed in my culture | ||
Don’t know | 39 | 9.1 |
No | 319 | 74.0 |
Yes | 73 | 16.9 |