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

Background: 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).

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.