Publication: Community-based Screening of Cervical Cancer in an Urban Setting in Nepal: A Cross-sectional Study
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
In Nepal, cervical cancer is among the most prevalent cancers among females, yet
only about 8% of women have undergone screening, highlighting significant barriers
to access in low-resource settings.
Objective
To assess and report the outcomes of a community-based cervical cancer screening
with visual inspection of acetic acid and an active follow-up program in Budhanilkantha
municipality, Kathmandu Valley.
Method
We conducted a cross-sectional study in Budhanilkantha Municipality among 1360
women aged 30 to 60 who attended community-based cervical cancer screening
camps. Trained research assistants collected socio-demographic and reproductive
health data through interviews, abstracted medical records about Visual Inspection
with Acetic Acid outcomes, and made follow-up calls to those who screened positive.
We conducted descriptive analysis and logistic regression to assess associations
between screen positivity and women’s characteristics.
Result
A total of 1,360 women visited the camp, with 98.3% undergoing visual inspection
with acetic acid, and 7.25% screening positive. Among those referred, 78% followed
up at the recommended hospital; diagnostic tests indicated that 12.3% had low-
grade lesions and 1.36% had high-grade pre-cancerous lesions. The adjusted model
revealed no statistically significant associations between Visual Inspection with Acetic
Acid positivity and variables such as age, ethnicity, education, and reproductive
history.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that the community-based Visual Inspection with Acetic
Acid (VIA) cervical cancer screening method was highly acceptance and had high
treatment follow-up among women in urban Nepal.
KEY WORDS
Cervical cancer, Screening, Visual inspection with acetic acid
Description
Shrestha A,1 Poudel L,2 Khanal B,3 Poudel K,3 Shakya S,4 Timsina P,1 Shakya P,2 Shrestha S,1 Paneru B1
1Department of Public Health
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences
Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
2Institute for Implementation Science and Health
Kathmandu, Nepal
3NepAl Applied Mathematics and Informatics Institute for research
Kathmandu, Nepal
4Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences
Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal
Keywords
Cervical cancer, Screening, Visual inspection with acetic acid