Screening of cervical cancer using Smart scope at a Rural Health Training Centre, Pune, India: a cross-sectional study
Abstract
Objective: To screen women for cervical cancer using Smart scope at a Rural Health Training Center, Pune, India.
Methods: The present study analyzed available screening data using a cross-sectional design. A private medical college’s rural health training center provides screening services to women above 30 years of age as per the Government of India’s guidelines. The guidelines include visual inspection after applying acetic acid (VIA). The study included data from June 2019 to January 2020, when a principal investigator was posted in a rural health training center. The study participants were married women. We screened all women giving consent. The authors used a Smart scope (image capturing and transmitting device), Cusco’s speculum, and acetic acid. The images were immediately transmitted to faculty from the Obstetrics and Gynecology department for prompt opinion.
Results: Out of 1,232 women, 179 consented. The mean age was 37.7 years. (SD=8.62). Eighty-three women showed cervical pathologies, and 14 were VIA positive. The majority of the women had vaginal discharge. The most common pathological lesion was cervical erosion (32.12%). The study found no association between age and parity with cervical pathological findings.
Conclusion: Smart scope helps prompt diagnosis of the condition of the cervix. Visualizing the photo of cervical pathology by the women enhances the patient’s health care seeking. It is a feasible and cost-effective process that overcomes the limitations of VIA.
Ethical Statement
Approval was obtained from the institutional ethics committee prior to the study.
Thanks
The authors sincerely thank Principal of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College, Pune, Dr. Mandar Karmarkar. We also thank Dr. J.S. Gothankar, Professor and Head Department of Community Medicine. We thank all the women who have undergone screening procedure.
References
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- Canavan TP, Doshi NR. Cervical Cancer. 2000;61(5):1369-1376.
- ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer. India Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, II. Com-plementary data on cervical cancer prevention. 2023;2023:1-2. www.hpvcentre.net.
- Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Dikshit R, et al. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: Sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. Int J Cancer. 2015;136(5):E359-E386. doi:10.1002/ijc.29210.
- July O, Pashi A. Rural Indian Women Face Heightened Cervical Cancer Risks. 2019;(November 2004):1-9.
- Health Policy Watch. Cervical Health For A Lifetime - The Indian Smart Scope Innovation As A Key Tool For Early Cancer Detection - Health Policy Watch. 15/11/2020.
- Raamamoorthy K. Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screening Programme. 2006;(November 2005):1-42.
- Sankaranarayanan R, Basu P, Wesley RS, et al. Accuracy of visual screening for cervical neoplasia: Results from an IARC multicentre study in India and Africa. Int J Cancer. 2004;110(6):907-913. doi:10.1002/ijc.20190.
- Rahatgaonkar V, Uchale P, Oka G. Comparative Study of Smart Scope® Visual Screening Test with Naked Eye Visual Screening and Pap Test. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2020;21(12):3509. doi:10.31557/APJCP.2020.21.12.3509.
- Poli UR, Bidinger PD, Gowrishankar S. Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) Screening Program: 7 Years Experience in Early Detection of Cervical Cancer and Pre-Cancers in Rural South India. Indian J Community Med. 2015;40(3):203. doi:10.4103/0970-0218.158873.
- SMART SCOPE A trans-vaginal digital imaging device for single-visit cervical screening test. BIRAC 3i Portal. https://birac.nic.in/product-detail.php?product=169. Accessed July 4, 2024.
- Reichheld A, Mukherjee PK, Rahman SM, David K V., Pricilla RA. Prevalence of Cervical Cancer Screening and Awareness among Women in an Urban Community in South India—A Cross Sectional Study. Ann Glob Heal. 2020;86(1). doi:10.5334/AOGH.2735.
- Binka C, Nyarko SH, Awusabo-Asare K, Doku DT. Barriers to the Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment among Rural Women in Ghana. Biomed Res Int. 2019;2019. doi:10.1155/2019/6320938.
- McFarland DM. Cervical cancer and Pap smear screening in Botswana: knowledge and perceptions. Int Nurs Rev. 2003;50(3):167-175. doi:10.1046/J.1466-7657.2003.00195.X.
- Markovic M, Kesic V, Topic L, Matejic B. Barriers to cervical cancer screening: A qualitative study with women in Serbia. Soc Sci Med. 2005;61(12):2528-2535. doi:10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2005.05.001.
- Fort VK, Makin MS, Siegler AJ, Ault K, Rochat R. Barriers to cervical cancer screening in Mulanje, Malawi: a qualitative study. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2011;5:125-131. doi:10.2147/PPA.S17317.
Abstract
References
- World Health Organization. Cervical cancer. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cervical-cancer. Published 2024. Accessed June 23, 2024.
- Canavan TP, Doshi NR. Cervical Cancer. 2000;61(5):1369-1376.
- ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer. India Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, II. Com-plementary data on cervical cancer prevention. 2023;2023:1-2. www.hpvcentre.net.
- Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Dikshit R, et al. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: Sources, methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. Int J Cancer. 2015;136(5):E359-E386. doi:10.1002/ijc.29210.
- July O, Pashi A. Rural Indian Women Face Heightened Cervical Cancer Risks. 2019;(November 2004):1-9.
- Health Policy Watch. Cervical Health For A Lifetime - The Indian Smart Scope Innovation As A Key Tool For Early Cancer Detection - Health Policy Watch. 15/11/2020.
- Raamamoorthy K. Guidelines for Cervical Cancer Screening Programme. 2006;(November 2005):1-42.
- Sankaranarayanan R, Basu P, Wesley RS, et al. Accuracy of visual screening for cervical neoplasia: Results from an IARC multicentre study in India and Africa. Int J Cancer. 2004;110(6):907-913. doi:10.1002/ijc.20190.
- Rahatgaonkar V, Uchale P, Oka G. Comparative Study of Smart Scope® Visual Screening Test with Naked Eye Visual Screening and Pap Test. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2020;21(12):3509. doi:10.31557/APJCP.2020.21.12.3509.
- Poli UR, Bidinger PD, Gowrishankar S. Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) Screening Program: 7 Years Experience in Early Detection of Cervical Cancer and Pre-Cancers in Rural South India. Indian J Community Med. 2015;40(3):203. doi:10.4103/0970-0218.158873.
- SMART SCOPE A trans-vaginal digital imaging device for single-visit cervical screening test. BIRAC 3i Portal. https://birac.nic.in/product-detail.php?product=169. Accessed July 4, 2024.
- Reichheld A, Mukherjee PK, Rahman SM, David K V., Pricilla RA. Prevalence of Cervical Cancer Screening and Awareness among Women in an Urban Community in South India—A Cross Sectional Study. Ann Glob Heal. 2020;86(1). doi:10.5334/AOGH.2735.
- Binka C, Nyarko SH, Awusabo-Asare K, Doku DT. Barriers to the Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment among Rural Women in Ghana. Biomed Res Int. 2019;2019. doi:10.1155/2019/6320938.
- McFarland DM. Cervical cancer and Pap smear screening in Botswana: knowledge and perceptions. Int Nurs Rev. 2003;50(3):167-175. doi:10.1046/J.1466-7657.2003.00195.X.
- Markovic M, Kesic V, Topic L, Matejic B. Barriers to cervical cancer screening: A qualitative study with women in Serbia. Soc Sci Med. 2005;61(12):2528-2535. doi:10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2005.05.001.
- Fort VK, Makin MS, Siegler AJ, Ault K, Rochat R. Barriers to cervical cancer screening in Mulanje, Malawi: a qualitative study. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2011;5:125-131. doi:10.2147/PPA.S17317.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Health Care Administration |
| Journal Section | Original Research |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | April 20, 2025 |
| Publication Date | April 25, 2025 |
| Submission Date | July 18, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | February 26, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 23 Issue: 1 |
Cite
TURKISH JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH - TURK J PUBLIC HEALTH. online-ISSN: 1304-1096
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