Cytopathological Evidence Of Cervical Lesions In Women Attending Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47750/pnr.2023.14.04.62Abstract
Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an important determinant of cervical cancer, especially in women of childbearing age. Adequate awareness of the burden of these diseases and early diagnosis are still limited in Nigeria due to lack of knowledge and socioeconomic status.
Aim: This was a prospective study conducted to determine the cytopathological evidence of cervical lesions as well as relevant cervical cancer risk factors in women attending Federal Medical Center, Asaba, Nigeria, between August and October 2022.
Methodology: One hundred and fifty (150) consented women aged 18 - 60 (38.0 ± 7.3) years were selected for the study. The researchers adopted a purposive sampling method, and a standard questionnaire was administered to ascertain their sociodemographic characteristics. Pap smears were done, and the results were reported by a pathologist.
Results: The prevalence of cervical cytological abnormalities was 41 (27.3%). Thirty five (23.3%) of the women had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), three (2%) had atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, 2 (1.3%) had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions while, 1 (0.7%) had atypical squamous cells. The abnormal cells were more numerous in participants between the age of 31 and 40 years (P = 0.0002). The result shows that women with their first sexual experiences were significantly higher among the ages of 19 to 25 years (P = 0.0046) as well as women with five or more children (P = 0.0015). Significant associations appeared among age, coitarche, parity, and cervical cell abnormalities (P = 0.0002, 0.0046, and 0.0015, respectively).
Conclusion: The results showed a high prevalence of LSILs in reproductive-age women, which indicates infection with certain types of HPV. A routine module for HPV screening and vaccination program among reproductive-age women is highly advocated at both primary and tertiary care levels to curb future progression to cervical cancer and its complications.
