Prevalence of pre-cancerous cervical lesions using visual inspection acetic acid method among women

<p>Gayathri and A Santham Lillypet</p>

Prevalence of pre-cancerous cervical lesions using visual inspection acetic acid method among women

Gayathri and A Santham Lillypet

M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Nursing Education and Research, India

: J Nurs Patient Care

Abstract

Introduction & Aim: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. It accounts for 6% of all cancers in women (WHO), while there are many factors that put women at risk for cervical cancer, which is caused by the human papillomavirus. There is need for optimal strategies for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. Visual Inspection Acetic acid (VIA) can be done in women of all age groups after the onset of sexual activity up to menopause. Higher priority for screening is given to women aged 35 years or more and repeat screening in every 5 years will achieve great impact on incidence and mortality associated with cervical cancer. Aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of pre-cancerous cervical lesions among women and to find the association between pre-cancerous cervical lesions and selected socio-demographic variables. Method: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in Outpatient Department (OPD) of Sanjay Nagar and Mathikere Urban Health Centre, Bengaluru. To screen for precancerous cervical lesion, 210 participants were recruited by random sampling technique. Data were collected by using structured questionnaire and screening was by visual inspection with acetic acid. Descriptive and inferential statistic was used for analyzing the data. Result: The finding of the study revealed that the mean age of the woman screened was 36.13 years and 98.1% woman were married, the mean age at menarche were 12.77 years and marriage were 20.28 years. The prevalence of pre-cancerous cervical lesions VIA positive was 1.9% (4 cases out of 210 women screened). Conclusion: Visual Inspection Acetic acid (VIA) screening is simple, safe, feasible, cost effective, acceptable and affordable screening test in identifying the pre-cancerous cervical cancer lesions. Age at marriage and type of sanitary pads used had significant association. Further intervention should aim at educating the community on personal hygiene.