Abstract
BackgroundThe point at which men seek medical care for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) varies between individuals. Presentation to hospital with complications beyond LUTS appears prevalent in our setting. The aim of this survey is to assess from the community perspective in southeast Nigeria, the challenges to early presentation for medical evaluation for LUTS by men.MethodsA questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey of randomly-selected men ≥40 years. The questionnaire captured respondent’s age; presence, duration and severity of LUTS; access to health information; wealth-index; and when (and why) medical care for LUTS was sought. Analysis was with SPSS® version 20.ResultsIn all, responses from 1319 men (mean age 54.2 ± 10.2 years) are analysed. Of these, 267 report LUTS: 58.4% (156) report moderate to severe LUTS and 51.7% (138) are yet to seek medical care. As regards seeking medical care, all the men reporting LUTS of 3 months, 35.7% of 126 men reporting moderate LUTS, and 20.0% of 30 men reporting severe LUTS are yet to seek medical care. LUTS being non-bothersome (not financial constraint) is the most prevalent reason for not seeking medical care early. Delay is encouraged by limited access to health information (OR 3.10; p < 0.001), but discouraged by literacy (OR 0.86; p < 0.001) and aging (OR 0.93; p = 0.002).ConclusionFrom the community perspective, the prevalent challenge to seeking medical care for LUTS early is absence of bother. Empowering men through formal education and researched health information will influence positively the time that LUTS in men is appreciated as bothersome.
Highlights
The point at which men seek medical care for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) varies between individuals
This study reveals that respondents’ socio-economic status does not have any significant influence on when medical care is sought by men reporting LUTS
The observed key challenge with early presentation for medical care by men experiencing LUTS is that LUTS of various severity are considered non-bothersome
Summary
The point at which men seek medical care for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) varies between individuals. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a set of symptoms that usually indicate that there is dysfunction in the storage and controlled evacuation of urine from the urinary bladder [1]. These symptoms can occur in any age group, but the reasons for the symptoms vary from age to age and from one gender to the other [2]. A number of individual constitutional, social and economic factors, interacting with each other, have been documented to influence the intention to seek medical care: some of them are cultural belief and practice, self-perceived aging [11], literacy level [12], poor finances and accessibility of medical care especially in the absence of robust health insurance [13], and exposure to health information [14]
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