A Retrospective Study on Cervical Cancer Screening Using Pap Smear and Related Factors Among Women Living in Tiaret, Algeria

Abstract

To identify the abnormal pap smear cytology and its association with different socio-demographic characteristics in women attending the cervical cancer screening service at the Proximity Public Health Establishment (PPHE Zaaroura-Tiaret) in Algeria. This retrospective study was conducted on 1230 women attending the cervical cancer screening service mentioned above during the period from October 1st 2017 to March 31st 2018. Pap smears were made with the conventional method according to standard medical literature and classification as per Bethesda system 2014. Statistical analysis was performed using R Studio Software. The mean age of study participants was 42.24 years. The maximum number of study subjects (37.24%) was in the age group of 41 to 50 years. According to Bethesda Terminology, 356 (28.94%) were normal smears, 802 (65.20%) of women in the study group had inflammatory smear, 53 (4.31%) smears were reported as inadequate, Epithelial cell abnormality was seen in 19 (1.54%) of the smears which includes 3 (0.24%) ASCUS, 2 (0.16%) LSIL, 1 (0.08%) HSIL, 5 (0.41%) ASCH, and 8 (0.65%) AGC. Out of the 19 (1.54%) abnormal Pap smear, 0.54% were found in women in the age group of 41–50 years. The majority of the women with abnormal Pap smear were married before the age of 21 years (0.57%). The present study found that 0.98% women with abnormal Pap smear had more than 3 children. It was also found that women who did not breastfeed had the highest rate of abnormal Pap smear (0.57%). These various elements suggest that we could still significantly reduce the incidence of this cancer thanks to better information and awareness among women that are not currently screened.