title: Follow-up care of women with an abnormal cytology in a low-resource setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We ascertained the follow-up care after an abnormal cytology (Papanicolaou) screening in the San Marti;n region of Perú and assessed the status of women who had not received adequate care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified women with an abnormal cytology and assessed their medical records, laboratory registries, death certificates and interviewed them at home. Re-screening, diagnosis and treatment were offered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 46 (25%) of the 183 women identified received appropriate follow-up care. At re-screening 31 (34%) had a normal result, 9 (10%) were diagnosed with CIN1 and 50 (56%) had CIN2 or worse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this setting, follow-up care after an abnormal cytology was very poor and could explain the lack of impact of cervical cancer screening. Women with an abnormal cytology constitute a high-risk group that should be a priority for health services.
authors.affiliation: Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 18-41, Rockville, MD, USA. jgage@hrsa.gov
authors.forename: Julia C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.forename: Catterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreccio
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Militza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huivín
authors.forename: Sylvia C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Robles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008499:Medical Records; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010568:Peru; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*