O-117 Perceptions and barriers to prostate cancer screening among Guyanese men
Author(s):
J Corbin, A Murray, R Sukhraj, SK Jagnarain
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: To assess Guyanese men’s knowledge and perceptions of prostate cancer screening and identify barriers
influencing screening behaviour
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 men aged 40 years and older using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise responses. Chi-square tests examined associations between knowledge, education and screening history.
Results: Awareness of prostate cancer was high (89.5%), yet 42.7% of respondents could not identify any screening method, and 30.4% were unaware that screening services were available in Guyana. Self-rated knowledge was strongly associated with screening history (p<0.0001). Men with tertiary education were significantly more likely to have been screened (69.4%) than men with no formal education (31.6%). The most frequently reported barriers were lack of awareness of screening availability (24.5%), absence of healthcare provider recommendation (15.7%) and perception that screening was unnecessary (13.2%). Financial constraints (5.7%) and embarrassment or stigma (0.3%) were minor barriers.
Conclusion: Although general awareness of prostate cancer was high among Guyanese men, critical knowledge gaps and weak provider engagement limit screening uptake. Targeted public education and stronger healthcare provider involvement are essential to improving early detection and reducing mortality.