Cervical Cancer Screening in a Low–Resource Setting: Buea-Cameroon

Background: Cervical cancer screening is not widely performed in developing countries like Cameroon. We conducted “one-day-screening” in Buea. Methods: The study was performed at the Buea Regional Hospital, Annex on the 2nd of November, 2019. A MobileODT colposcopic device was used to enhance visualization of the cervix and, if necessary, treatment as thermal coagulation or Loop electrical excision procedure (LEEP) was done at the same time. Before the screening, questionnaires were administered to participants.

Results: of 140 women who agreed to participate, 124 (89%) completed the screening procedure: the mean age; 36.53 (±12.17) and reported negative HIV; 98%. Of the 124, 8 (6.5%) were screened positive, i.e., Low squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) 7 (5.6%) and High squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) 1 (0.8%).Out of the 8, 2 met treatment criteria. However, only one accepted treatment. The HSIL was excised and histopathology confirmed a CIN2 lesion. Although 111 (89.5%) participants believed that cervical cancer is preventable, only 37 (29.8%) had been previously screened and just one had previously been vaccinated against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Conclusion: One-day cervical cancer screening may provide an opportunity to treat and educate women on the importance of cervical cancer screening. The “see and treat” effectiveness should be confirmed by larger studies.