Prevalence and Association of Atypical Cervical Epithelial Cell Abnormalities with Different SociodemographicFactors among Women Attending theMaternity Teaching Hospital inErbil, Iraq

Abstract

Background: Regular Pap smear screening leads to significant decreases in morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. Objective: To determine the prevalence of atypical cervical epithelial cell abnormalities and its association with different sociodemographic characteristics among a group of Iraqi women in Erbil city. Patients and Methods: Pap smear test was performed on 968 women attending the maternity teaching hospital between 1st February 2013 and 1st January 2014. All specimens were examined by the same cytologist, and laboratory findings classified according to Bethesda system 2001. Sociodemographic characteristics and laboratory results for each woman were collected in especially designed questionnaire. Results: Participant's age ranged between 18-70 years with a mean ± SD of 37 ± 9.6 years. Atypical cervical epithelial cell abnormalities was prevalent among 13.5% of the participant with ASCUS had the highest prevalence rate (9.6%) among total sample. Atypical cervical epithelial cell abnormalities was significantly associated with increasing age above 30 years (P=0.007) and higher duration of marriage (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Relatively high prevalence of atypical cervical epithelial cell abnormalities was demonstrated. The association of this prevalence rate with age and duration of marriage is comparable to the findings of other studies in other developing countries.