title: Associated factors with cervical pre-malignant lesions among the married fisher women community at Sadras, Tamil Nadu.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the associated factors of cervical pre-malignant lesions among the married fisher women residing in the coastal areas of Sadras, Tamil Nadu.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in five fishermen communities under Sadras, a coastal area in Tamil Nadu, India. Two hundred and fifty married fisher women residing in the area. Quantitative descriptive approach with a cross-sectional study design was used. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule for identifying the associated factors and Pap smear test was performed for identifying the pre-malignant cervical lesions among the married fisher women. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 250 women, about six (2.4%) of them presented with pre-cancerous lesions such as atypical squamous cell of undifferentiated significance (ASCUS) - five (2%) and mild dysplasia one (0.4%). Majority of the women, about 178 (71.2%) women, had abnormal cervical findings. Statistical analysis showed a significant association of risk factors such as advanced age, lack of education, low socioeconomic status, using tobacco, multiparity, premarital sex, extramarital relationship, using cloth as sanitary napkin, etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study findings clearly show the increased vulnerable state of the fisher women for acquiring cervical cancer as they had many risk factors contributing to the same.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Chengalpattu Medical College, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sornam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganesan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Vasantha N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Subbiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing services, Global Hospitals and Health City, India.
authors.forename: Jothi Clara J
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Michael
keywords: Associated factors; Pap smear; cervical cancer; coastal community; fisher women; pre-malignant cervical lesions