Experience in screening for cervical cancer in rural areas of Barsi Tehsil (Maharashtra)

The organization of cancer detection camps is gaining popularity in our country and it is therefore necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This to our knowledge has not been done. This report analyses an experience in screening for cervical cancer in rural areas of Barsi Tehsil (Maharashtra). The Barsi Tehsil consists of 134 villages with a population of 34,080 women above the age of 30 years (1982-1987). Of these 2,846 were screened through a series of cancer detection camps between 1982 and 1987. The results of the cytological screening in these women have been presented. An evaluation of the camp approach was carried out by the Population based Cancer Registry set up under the National Cancer Registry Programme (Indian Council of Medical Research) in Barsi, Paranda and Bhum tehsils. It was shown that acceptance of cytological screening was poor, thereby indicating that the mere holding of camps was not in itself sufficient to motivate the people, to subject themselves to the Pap smear. Certain suggestions which would appreciably increase the acceptance of cytological screening have been put forward.