Populations at high risk of cervical cancer in Guangxi Province: Findings from two screening projects in a minority area of South China.

Abstract

ObjectiveTo analyse the positive rates of low-grade (LSIL) and high-grade (HSIL) squamous intraepithelial lesions, and cervical cancer (CC), and identify groups at high risk for CC in Guangxi.SettingCC screening options in Guangxi, which is the only minority autonomous area in South China, include the National Cervical Cancer Screening Project (NCCSP) and physical examination (PE).MethodsThis study was based on PE and NCCSP sample data obtained from 2012 to 2019. We calculated the positive rates of LSIL, HSIL, and CC; analysed the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the variables in multivariate logistic regression; and subsequently identified groups at high risk for CC.ResultsThe positive rates of LSIL, HSIL, and CC for the total of 873,880 samples were 1.89%, 0.60%, and 0.03%, respectively. Females over 64 years of age (vs. 50–64; aOR = 2.05; 95% CI, 1.71–2.46; P < 0.001) and those from urban (vs. rural; aOR = 1.66; 95% CI, 1.57–1.76; P < 0.001), minority (vs. non-minority; aOR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.13–1.35; P < 0.001), and coastal (vs. inland; aOR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.06–1.25; P = 0.001) areas were associated with a high risk of HSIL. Females over 64 (vs. 50–64; aOR = 4.37; 95% CI, 2.88–6.63; P < 0.001) and those from urban (vs. rural; aOR = 3.05; 95% CI, 2.36–3.95; P < 0.001) areas were significantly associated with a high risk of CC.ConclusionFemales from urban areas in Guangxi are at high risk for CC. Public health strategies should focus on high-risk populations.