The influence of reproductive and marital factors on cervical dyskaryosis.

Five hundred sexually active women attending various clinics in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital had questionnaires on their reproductive and marital characteristics randomly administered. Their 'Pap' smears were then taken for cytological examination. The aim was to determine the influence of marital and reproductive factors on the occurrence of cervical dyskaryosis and how these may be used to develop a risk-scoring criteria that could target selectively the population most at risk. Late marriage, early age at first pregnancy and grand-multiparity significantly influenced the occurrence of cervical dyskaryosis. These factors may be valuable in developing a risk score that could target women at higher risk of developing cervical dyskaryosis.