Bridging the Divide: Exploring Why Nigerian Men Struggle with Prostate Cancer Awareness and Screening Uptake

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) continues to rank among the top causes of cancer-related deaths in Nigerian men, yet awareness and participation in screening remain alarmingly low. Social norms, cultural interpretations of illness, economic hardship, and fear of diagnosis significantly obstruct early detection efforts. Aim: This review set out to examine the underlying barriers and enabling factors that influence knowledge of and participation in prostate cancer screening among Nigerian men. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken using the PEO framework. Literature published between 2015 and 2025 was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and supplementary grey sources. The search strategy applied the string: (“Prostate cancer” OR “Prostatic neoplasms”) AND (“Awareness” OR “Screening”) AND (“Barriers” OR “Challenges”) AND (“Nigerian men” OR “Nigeria”). From 20 initial records, 8 studies met eligibility criteria after rigorous screening. Quality assessment through the CASP checklist generated an overall score of 144/160 (90%), demonstrating methodological reliability. Findings: Evidence indicated striking gaps in awareness as 85.1% of men in one study exhibited poor knowledge (Enemugwem et al., 2019), while 72.9% could not identify the prostate’s location (Onyeodi et al., 2022). Spiritual and cultural beliefs, including views of PCa as divine punishment or a sexually transmitted condition (Adedeji et al., 2021), contributed to misinformation. Economic obstacles were significant, with 82.2% lacking health insurance (Enemugwem et al., 2019) and 51.3% describing screening as too costly (Onyeodi et al., 2022). Fear further discouraged engagement, with 50.3% preferring ignorance of their status (Onyeodi et al., 2022). Positive influences included physician guidance, encouragement from family, and peer support networks. Conclusion: Culturally sensitive education, financial support mechanisms, and healthcare provider advocacy are crucial to addressing these barriers and improving screening uptake among Nigerian men.