Open AccessEstimates for cervical abnormalities in Vanuatu
Author(s) -
Fotinatos Nina,
Warmington Adrian,
Walker Todd,
Pilbeam Mark
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00146.x
Subject(s) - cervical cancer , medicine , population , developing country , cervical cancer screening , demography , rural population , rural area , gynecology , cancer , environmental health , pathology , sociology , economics , economic growth
AbstractObjective:To use the Pap smear to establish a recent prevalence of cervical abnormalities within a select population in Vanuatu, a developing country.Methods:Cervical smears (n=907) were collected from Ni‐Vanuatu women from both urban and rural islands within Vanuatu between August 2001 and September 2005.Results:The prevalence of low‐grade epithelial abnormalities for the total population was 2.9% and the prevalence of the high‐grade epithelial abnormalities/cancer was 2.0%. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in prevalence of high‐grade epithelial abnormalities/cancer between the urban and rural populations sampled, with a higher prevalence in the urban population.Conclusions:The prevalence of pre‐cancer and cancer in Vanuatu is high compared with Victorian (Australian) statistics yet comparable with other developing countries with no cervical screening programs available.Implications:This study will hopefully assist in future planning of women's health programs and relevant preventive strategies to combat cervical cancer in Vanuatu.