Andrew Livex Okwi
Makerere University, Uganda
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Blood Disord Transfus
Methods: A cross sectional survey was done in the regions of Uganda. Women who reported to Gynecology Clinics were consecutively screened for cancerous and pre-malignant lesions using the Papanicolaou method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on risk factors. The power of associations between the risk factors and cancerous and pre-malignant lesions of cervical cancer were determined using the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Prevalence of 1.2% of cancerous and 11.2% of pre-malignant lesions was detected in all the regions. The risk factors for both cancerous and premalignant lesions were: Early coitus (OR 3.03, CI:1.01.10-10.05; p<0.024) and (OR 1.41 CI:0.98-2.20; p<0.032) respectively, sexually transmitted infections (STDs) (OR 6.07, CI: 1.77-27.22; p<0.001) and (OR 6.52, CI:4.33-9.10; p<0.001) respectively, polygamy (OR 3.13, CI: 0.98-11.77; p<0.027) and (OR 2.74, CI:1.71-4.43; p<0.001) correspondingly, alcohol (OR 3.72, CI: 1.19-13.77; p<0.011) and (OR 1.71, CI:1.20-2.47; p<0.001) respectively, increased sexual partners (OR 8.03, CI:2.20- 53.1; p<0.001) and (OR 3.69, CI:2.51-5.48; p<0.001) respectively. Smoking and high parity were risk factor for only cancerous lesions. The likelihood that women who had married more than once would get cancerous and premalignant lesions was high (OR 1.18, p<0.389) and (OR 1.36, p<0.122) respectively. Conclusion and Recommendations: Age at 1st coitus, STDs, polygamy, smoking, increased sexual partners and alcohol were risk factors for cancerous and premalignant lesions. Sensitization of the communities and regularly screening for cervical cancer should be encouraged for its control and management.