Knowledge and Perceived Susceptiblity of Male Academic Staff of the University of Ibadan to Male Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has been engendered to be a female phenomenon but it does exist among males. Incidence of male breast cancer (MBC) seems to be on the increase with men presenting at an advanced stage. The perception of MBC being a female disease has contributed to its fatality among men with no program in place for awareness and prevention. The knowledge and perceived susceptibility of male academic staff of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria to MBC was explored.

A 3-stage sampling technique was used to select 405 male academic staff. Semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive, ANOVA, Logistic and regression were used.

Respondents’ mean age was 42.8±1.7 years and 88.4% were married. Above half (63%) had Ph.D. Respondents of the medical grouped faculty had good mean knowledge with a mean of 22.4±4.8 compared with an average mean knowledge score 15.1±4.4 among respondents of the non medical grouped faculties. Few (21.7%) reported that MBC can affect men of all ages while 41.5% reported that painless lump in the breast is one of the signs of MBC. Majority (69.4%) of respondents’ do not perceive themselves as susceptible to MBC. Only 67.3% of the respondents would go for MBC screening if suggested by their doctors. Majority (76%) of the respondents want to know more about MBC through the mass media.

Respondents’ knowledge about MBC was low. There is the need for increase awareness and public enlightenment about the disease especially among the male gender.