title: Gynecological malignancies: epidemiological characteristics of the patients in a tertiary care hospital in India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This cross-sectional observational study was undertaken to identify the epidemiological characteristics of patients with gynecological malignancies in India, in relation to gynecological cancer risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the gynecology out-patient clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Kolkata, India, the patients with suggestive symptoms of gynecological malignancies were screened. One hundred thirteen patients with histopathologically confirmed gynecological malignancies were interviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than two-thirds of the cases (69.0%) occurred in the age range of 35-64 years and the same proportion of patients was from rural areas. Almost all the patients were "ever-married" (96.5%). More than half (54.9%) were illiterate/just literate. Nearly two-thirds (64.6%) were parity 3 or higher. Among the 18 patients with history of multiple sexual partners of the husband, 94.4% (17) were suffering from cervical malignancy, along with all the 3 patients with history of STD syndromes (sexually transmitted diseases) of their husbands. No one had given a history of condom use by her husband. Most of the patients (91.1%) used old / reused cloth pieces during menstruation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need to increase awareness among women and the broader community about different epidemiological factors that may be responsible for increased risk of gynecological malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, India. dr.madhutandra.sarkar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Madhutandra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Hiralal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Konar
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Raut
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers