Open Access

ARTICLE

Chronic prostatitis-like symptoms in African males aged 16-19 years

Dean A. Tripp^1,2,3, J. Curtis Nickel³, Jennifer L. Pikard¹, Laura Katz¹

1 Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
2 Department of Anesthesiology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
3 Department of Urology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Address correspondence Dr. Dean A. Tripp, Departments of Psychology, Anesthesiology & Urology, Humphrey Hall, 62 Arch Street, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 Canada

Canadian Journal of Urology 2012, 19(1), 6081-6087.

Abstract

Introduction: To estimate the prevalence of chronic prostatitis (CP)-like symptoms in African adolescents, examining the impact of demographic factors, CP-like symptoms (i.e., pain, urinary) and depressive symptoms on quality of life (QoL).
Materials and methods: Community dwelling African males aged 16-19 years (M = 16.97; SD = .88; n = 166), attending secondary school participated. CP-like case identification was based on NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index definition (NIH-CPSI; pain in perineum and/or with ejaculation and NIH-CPSI total pain score of ≥ 4 [mild] and ≥ 8 [moderate-severe]). The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) assessed depressive symptoms. CP-like point prevalence was estimated and multivariable regressions predicted diminished QoL as screened in the NIH-CPSI QoL domain. Participants were consented by field researchers and all potential participants agreed to complete the measures in classroom setting.
Results: Prevalence of at least mild CP-like symptoms by NIH-CPSI case identification was 13.3%, with 5.4% of adolescents reporting moderate-severe symptoms. Greater pain, urinary and depressive symptoms and rural setting of school were associated with diminished QoL, and pain (β = .36) most strongly predicted poorer QoL.
Conclusions: As in North American adults and adolescents, African adolescents report CP-like symptom occurrence with pain associated with lower QoL. The data suggest an adolescent CP syndrome is an internationally important and understudied area for future epidemiological and clinical investigations.

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