Cervical cytopathological changes in pregnancy: An experience from a low resource setting

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death in developing nations, preventable by screening.
• Nigerian cervical cancer screening programs are opportunistic and lack sufficient coverage.
• Early detection of cervical cytopathological changes is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess cervical cytopathological changes in pregnant women at booking using liquid-based cytology (LBC).
• To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with abnormal cervical cytology in pregnant women in Kano, Nigeria.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 161 pregnant women at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
• Liquid-based cytology (LBC) was used for cervical sample analysis.
• Data on socio-demographics, reproductive characteristics, and risk factors were collected.

Main Results:

• A prevalence of 13.7% for abnormal cervical cytology was observed among pregnant women.
• Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (LSIL) were the most common abnormality (50.0%).
• Advanced maternal age, increased sexual partners, high parity, and HIV positivity were significant predictors of premalignant cervical lesions.

Conclusions:

• Advanced maternal age, multiple sexual partners, high parity, and HIV positivity are independent predictors of premalignant cervical lesions in pregnant women.
• Routine cervical cytology screening using LBC should be integrated into antenatal care to improve detection rates.
• Targeted screening for high-risk pregnant women can enhance early detection and management of cervical pre-cancerous lesions.