Testicular-self examination among Nigerian adolescent secondary school boys: knowledge, attitudes and practices

BACKGROUND Testicular-self examination (TSE) is a cheap and easy-to-perform procedure for early detection of testicular cancer but data on this subject is lacking in Nigeria, particularly among male adolescents. OBJECTIVE To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of testicular-self examination among secondary school boys. METHODS Knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to TSE were assessed, using anonymous structured self-administered questionnaires in a sample of 540 secondary school boys aged between 15 and 20 years. RESULTS Nearly all (98.7%) the male students had never heard of TSE and had hardly practiced TSE. Of the 7 students who admitted examining their testicles, none did so at the recommended level (10 or more times per year) and did not follow the standard procedure for TSE. Nearly half (47.2%) of the participants had a positive intention to start performing TSE regularly after hearing of TSE (through the questionnaire and subsequent teaching on the subject). CONCLUSIONS The level of knowledge, practice and the rating of the importance of TSE are all very low among adolescent secondary school boys in Benin City, suggesting that these students are unaware of the value of this personal health surveillance tool. The students demonstrated a positive intention to start performing TSE regularly after hearing of TSE (through the questionnaire and subsequent teaching on the subject).