Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide for females and the seventh most common cancer overall. Nigeria, a developing country, ranked tenth globally and fifth in Africa, has a mortality rate of 22.9 deaths per 100,000 with 14,000 new cases being diagnosed annually. In an effort to reduce this mortality rate, this research was undertaken to assess the level of awareness, attitude and practice of common cancer preventive strategies such as screening and the treatment of precancerous lesions using LEEP as a case study among women. A descriptive design using simple random sampling methods with self-administered questionnaires or interview methods (for illiterates) were used to collect data from the sample population. Market women were used (4 major markets in Ibadan) because they provided a sample population of women both in their reproductive and menopausal groups, with various level of literacy. Data was analyzed using the SPSS version 15. Of the total 100 respondents, only 55% had heard about cervical cancer while just 35% had heard about cervical screening test. 26% cited schools while 16% of the 35% cited mass media as their sources of awareness about the disease. 96% agreed that it was important to be screened for early diagnosis, 90% of all acknowledged the importance of this screening test in reducing deaths from cervical cancer. However, only 4% had ever been screened in their lifetime. Despite this, 74% of total respondents had a positive attitude to being screened while an additional 16% would have loved to be screened if the test was made free. On the role of treatment of precancerous lesions as a means of reducing mortality rate, 26% were aware about the Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) while only 40% of that agreed that it was curative. 84% agreed that women should be aware about the procedure, 85% agreed that it could reduce maternal mortality rates from cervical cancer. 92% suggested that the government should increase public campaign about preventing the disease, 79% encouraged more community awareness and availability of preventive strategies at the primary health centers while 87% promised to pass the information they had to other women. 93% noted that more women will seek early medical care if the LEEP was made free. 30% expressed poor knowledge among physicians due to their not being appropriately counseled and 84% expressed the need for further training among clinicians. Despite limitations in funding, it is suggested that more research work can be done to assess possible ethical beliefs towards contraceptives, HPV vaccine and sexual practices and how they affect cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates.

Note: This abstract was withdrawn after the Proceedings were printed and, therefore, was not presented at the conference.

Citation Format: Olohirere Tomisin Ezomo. Knowledge, attitude and practice of cervical cancer preventive strategies among market women in Ibadan, Nigeria. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2014 Sep 27-Oct 1; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2015;8(10 Suppl): Abstract nr B13.

©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.
2015