Background: Testicular cancer (TC) is the most common 
form of cancer among men. Lack of knowledge of male 
cancers is a major contributor to delays in seeking care for 
cancer symptoms and prevention of TC. The focus on this 
study was to examine gender differences in knowledge of 
testicular cancer (TC) and testicular self-examination (TSE) 
among students at an African university.  
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 
male and female university students. A total of 1,300 first 
year students were approached to participate and 976 (44.8% 
= male and 55.2% = female accepted; giving a response rate 
of 75.1%. A chi square test was used to examine the 
differences between male and female respondents in terms 
of knowledge of male cancers, TC and TSE.  
Results: Only 54.2% of the sample had ever heard of male 
cancers. Knowledge of TC and TSE was quite low, with 
only 40% ever hearing of testicular cancer. Only 22% of the 
sample had ever heard of TSE and 15% identified a lump as 
a correct symptom of TC. Only 9% knew that there was 
some genetic predisposition to TC and 22% correctly 
identified the correct age-groups at risk for TC.  
Overall, males had significantly higher levels of awareness 
(p<.001). However, there was no significant association 
between gender and knowledge of at least one correct symptom, at least one correct, correctly identifying the ages 
at risk of TC and methods of preventing TC. 
Conclusion: While males are more aware of male cancers 
and TC compared to women, their knowledge appears to be 
more general in nature. Male knowledge of specific aspects 
of TC which include knowledge of at least one correct 
symptom, knowledge of the ages at risk of TC and 
knowledge of at least one correct cause of TC did not 
statistically differ from that of females.