Socio-demographic and Risk Factors Study of Cervical Cancer among Women in South India

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the world. Despite the good achievements in this type of cancer prevention and treatment in developed countries, developing countries are still reporting high rates of new cases and mortalities, India as an example. In the current study, we aimed to study the most associated risk factors with cervical cancer in Coimbatore City, India. The study was first approved by the institutional Human Ethics Committee and then by the Sri Ramakrishna Hospital Human Ethics Committee. Then the data collected from cervical cancer patients after getting their informed consent. The collected data then analyzed statistically based on age, age at marriage, parity, smoking, and alcohol, level of education, and place of living. The study results showed that cervical cancer risk increases with age especially between 50 and 59 years old. The age of marriage data analysis revealed that 44% of the women married before 18 years old. The study found 51% of the patients have three or more children. The majority of the cases were women who had no education (64%) and the incidence decreased in the educated women (19% of 10th class, 9% 12th class, 8% degree or higher).75% of the cases are living in the rural areas. The study clearly showed the risky age (50 -59) and the importance of screening before this age as well as the role of education level, age of marriage, parity, and living place as key factors in cervical cancer.