Our seven years experience of rural cervical cancer screening in Lucknow, India

Abstract

This study was undertaken with aim to create awareness among rural women regarding hazards and risk factors of carcinoma cervix and offering single life time cytological screening for early detection of the disease. This was essential as majority of the rural women were illiterate and have poor personal genital hygiene. The present screening program was planned through organizing camps by counseling and motivating 100 women from each village for undergoing Pap smear examination. During last 7 years, a total of 186 camps have been organized in three Blocks of Lucknow, India and 2949 of the 5286 women attending the camps underwent Pap test. Cytological findings were analyzed in these 2949 women in relation to different risk factors of the disease.The squamous intraepithelial lesions of cervix (SIL) were seen in 498 cases (16.8%) while atypical squamous epithelial changes of unknown significance (ASCUS) were observed in only 234 (8.2%). The SIL incidence was found high for all risk factors of cervical cancer like young age, multiparity and vaginal discharge. Candida albicans was found more common and associated with inflammatory and SIL conditions of cervix.The organization of rural cervical cancer screening programs through camp approach and offering single life time cytological examination of cervical smears in rural women may prove very effective in the detection of large number of SIL cases, the adequate treatment of which will check the progression of the disease and minimize the incidence of carcinoma cervix and associated mortality in rural India.