GENDER AND HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOURS SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF DELAYED PROSTATE CANCER DETECTION IN SENGEREMA, TANZANIA

Abstract

Delayed prostate cancer detection is on the rise in Tanzania,
intensifying the existing cancer burden despite the availability of
screening services capable of identifying the disease in its
different stages. The delay remains a pressing public health
challenge, as it demands advanced systemic therapies that are
currently unavailable in the country, making treatment more
difficult and often resulting in poorer outcomes, including death.
This study explored socioeconomic and cultural determinants
for the delayed prostate cancer detection in Sengerema District,
Tanzania. It employed a phenomenological research design to
capture the essence of lived experiences through in-depth
interviews conducted between March and May 2023 with 25
purposively and conveniently sampled participants, including
patients undergoing treatment, their spouses, and both
traditional and biomedical practitioners. Data were analyzed
thematically, guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-phase
framework; and five themes emerged: Beliefs in witchcraft;
Fatalistic perceptions; Prioritizing gender roles; Stigmatized disease; and Communication barrier. These findings highlight
that while access to screening services could substantially improve outcomes through early detection, meaningful change requires addressing gender socialization and masculinity ideologies that influence men’s health-seeking behaviours, alongside improving cultural sensitivity in health communication and expanding affordable diagnostic and
treatment services.