Cervicovaginal lesions among women attending obstetrics and gynaecology at Ho Teaching Hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND Cervicovaginal lesions are a major health problem globally, with 80% of the cases occurring in developing countries. The lesions develop on the surfaces of the vagina and the cervix, usually with no symptoms, and are most often discovered by a routine Pap test. These lesions are most common in women under age 30 but can develop at any age. These lesions have a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of women. AIM This study sought to determine the prevalence of cervicovaginal lesions among women who attended Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ho Teaching Hospital. METHODOLOGY The study was a hospital-based, retrospective study that includes all patients who attended the Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinic at the Ho Teaching Hospital from 2013 to September 2022 and had Pap tests conducted on them. ”Patients’ information such as occupation, clinical history, age, and cytological diagnosis were retrieved. The analyzed data was presented as frequencies and percentages and summarized in figures and tables. RESULTS A total of 1244 patients’ data were retrieved. Their ages ranged from 10-77+ years, and the majority were 40-49. More than half of the women were employed in the informal sectors (56.4%), and the least were students (4.4%). 91.19% were NILM (Negative for intraepithelial lesions or malignancy), the majority of the cellular abnormalities were ASCUS (Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), while the highest infection recorded was Bacterial vaginosis. CONCLUSION The study found a high prevalence of cervical-vaginal infections among women and a strong association between age and cellular abnormalities.