This paper highlights the level of awareness of Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) as a strategy for reducing the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer among the reproductive women in Ibadan North Government of Oyo state, Nigeria. A non-experimental descriptive design was used to find out the level of awareness of LEEP among the market women in Ibadan North Local Government of Oyo State. The sampling technique adopted in the study was the simple random sampling. The sample consisted of young adults, adults and aged women including literate and illiterate. The respondents were reassured of the confidentiality of the data. The instrument used basically was self-structured questionnaire. These questionnaires were administered in four major markets which are Bodija, Sango, Gate, and Gbagi markets in Ibadan North Local Government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. On the respondent awareness of LEEP before this study, only 26 (26%) of the respondents strongly agreed that they have heard about LEEP while 15 (15%) were undecided and 59 (59%) said they have never heard about it, which means that majority of the respondents were not aware of LEEP. The women were asked if LEEP is curative and prevent reoccurrence of cervical cancer; 40 (40%) agreed while 33 (33%) were undecided about this question and 27 (27%) disagreed that it is not curative and cervical cancer can still occur. Regarding the necessity for all women to be aware of the LEEP, 84 (84%) agreed that it is important and necessary for all reproductive and menopausal women to be aware of LEEP which will help to reduce the maternal mortality and morbidity rate, while 15 (15%) were undecided and 1 (1%) disagreed. The women were asked if the awareness of LEEP will decrease the maternal mortality rate of cervical cancer. 85 (85%) agreed that awareness of LEEP will decrease the maternal mortality rate which means that if women are aware of LEEP, it will help them to come to the nearby health center for prompt treatment on time,14 (14%) are undecided and only 1(1%) disagreed. The study shows that most Nigerian market women are not aware of LEEP. There is a need for governments and policy makers to increase publicity on the benefits of LEEP so as to reduce the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer in Nigeria.

Citation Format: Olubunmi Olabisi Adetule. The awareness on loop electrosurgical excision procedure as a strategy for reducing the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer among Nigerian market women. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2012 Oct 16-19; Anaheim, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Prev Res 2012;5(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A111.

©2012 American Association for Cancer Research.
2012