OBJECTIVES: Establishing the prevalence of abnormal and inflammation cytology reports and its association with risks factors for uterine cervical neoplasms amongst females from the Cauca department in Colombia. METHODOLOGY: After signing a consent-form, females were interviewed using a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic and clinical data, including reproductive history, sexual activity, cytology history and smoking habits. Cytology was then taken for analysis and classification according to the 2001 Bethesda System. A total of 1,735 females were recruited for the study. RESULTS: According to the cytology report, 1061 women had normal cytology (61 %), 36 abnormal cytology (2 %) and 638 reactive cellular changes associated with inflammation (37 %). The results indicated that having sexual intercourse at an early age, multiparity, using hormonal contraceptives and not having annual cytology screening were associated with abnormal cytology reports. CONCLUSIONS: These results provided valuable information for public health institutions for developing better screening programmes to prevent risks of uterine cervical neoplasms amongst females from our region and throughout Colombia.
OBJECTIVES: Establishing the prevalence of abnormal and inflammation cytology reports and its association with risks factors for uterine cervical neoplasms amongst females from the Cauca department in Colombia. METHODOLOGY: After signing a consent-form, females were interviewed using a questionnaire to collect socio-demographic and clinical data, including reproductive history, sexual activity, cytology history and smoking habits. Cytology was then taken for analysis and classification according to the 2001 Bethesda System. A total of 1,735 females were recruited for the study. RESULTS: According to the cytology report, 1061 women had normal cytology (61 %), 36 abnormal cytology (2 %) and 638 reactive cellular changes associated with inflammation (37 %). The results indicated that having sexual intercourse at an early age, multiparity, using hormonal contraceptives and not having annual cytology screening were associated with abnormal cytology reports. CONCLUSIONS: These results provided valuable information for public health institutions for developing better screening programmes to prevent risks of uterine cervical neoplasms amongst females from our region and throughout Colombia.