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Analysis of lifestyle data and cytologic findings in a pilot cervical screening project in rural Vietnam
M E Boon1, H Schwinghammer, G van der Veen
1Department of Pathology and Cytology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. weall@lcpl.nl
Objective:
To evaluate the possibilities of a cervical cytology screening program and the importance of lifestyle parameters in women living in rural Vietnam.
Study Design:
Screening took place in Quangninh province in the north of Vietnam. From 700 women screened for the first time, smears were prepared and read by a cytotechnologist. The number of children and abortions (some women having had 10 abortions) allowed us to study the relationship of these life-style parameters with disturbed vaginal ecology (defined as the presence of Candida, trichomonads or cocci in the smear).
Results:
The smears from farmers showed the greatest ecologic disturbances in vaginal flora. Water supply turned out to be important for coccoid overgrowth. Scores for both fungal infection and coccoid overgrowth were related to profession. Candidosis proved to be very prominent in cytologically negative smears: the organisms were found (often in abundance) in 95 of 661 negative smears but were absent from cytologically positive smears.
Conclusion:
Since only two cases of CIN 3 were found and no cases of invasive carcinoma, cervical screening for cancer ought not to be the first priority for rural Vietnam.