Single visit approach for Cervical Cancer Prevention in a mobile screening clinic

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide, but the most preventable cancer. The objectives was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of immediately treating VIA positive women with thermocoagulation in a single-visit approach (SVA) in preventing cervical cancer.

Method: This was a community-based programme organized in collaboration with Nepal Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation and Thermocoagulation unit donated by Tropical Health and Education Trust in a mobile screening camp set up in five different underserved areas in Gorkha, Nepal. Total women were 1071 aged 30-60 yearrs in 5 days in December, 2016, had come for cervical cancer screening. Women who were VIA positive had thermocoaculation for treatment.

Results: Total screened women were 1071, the rate of VIA positive was 115(10.7%). 100% percent of positive result accepted treatment. All VIA positive patients except for one woman who was suspected of having invasive cervical cancer had treatment with thermocoagulation. Of all treated women only 5(4.38%) had minor side effect.

Conclusion: For cervical cancer screening, the single-visit program was feasible and the degree of acceptability was 100% in this underserved population. Single visit programs provide an opportunity to increase the rate of immediate treatment of lesions with minimal side effect compared with delayed treatment after obtaining colposcopy guided biopsy report in later visit.