title: Prevalence and risk factors of cervical cancer among women in an urban community of Kwara State, north central Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy in women worldwide with a high incidence in under-developed countries and Nigeria is one of these countries. This study aimed at screening for cervical cancer using Papanicolaou smear and to identify risk factors for cervical cancer among women in Olufadi community, Kwara State, North-central Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study involving the screening of women aged 25-64 years for cervical cancer using Papanicolaou smear. Respondents were selected through systematic random sampling of households. Interviewer- administered questionnaire and clinical report form were also used to collect data. In addition, Pap smear samples were taken. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 10 (5.0%) respondents had positive cytology result, while the rest were normal. Of the 10 positive cytology results, 1 (10.0%) was high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSIL) while the remaining 9 (90.0%) were low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LGSIL) which corresponds to 0.5% and 4.5% of the total respondents respectively. Risk factors for cervical cancer identified included coitarche, tobacco smoking, number of sexual partners and family history of cervical cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings from this study attest to the increasing burden of cervical cancer. The high number of positive results obtained from the study coupled with the presence of risk factors was an indication of how useful regular screening will be in the early detection of cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. kadurowade@yahoo.com
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Durowade
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Osagbemi
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Salaudeen
authors.forename: O I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Musa
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Akande
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Babatunde
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Raji
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Okesina
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fowowe
authors.forename: O O K
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Kolawole
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology*