Cervical pre-cancer screening by visual inspection of the cervix after application of acetic acid in rural Burkina Faso: evaluation of women’s knowledge, screening practice habits, acceptability and prevalence of risk factors and lesions in Boussé health district

Abstract

Introduction: cervical cancer is a major public health problem among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease can be controlled through early diagnosis through simple cost-effective methods such as visual inspection of the cervix after application of acetic acid or lugol´s iodine. However, screening for cervical cancer is still underused particularly in rural areas of Burkina Faso. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of cervical pre-cancer cancer in rural health district of Boussé, Burkina Faso.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in the health district of Boussé in Northern-Central Burkina Faso from July to August 2014. Women aged 23-50 years were interviewed about their knowledge of cervical cancer and their screening practice and subsequently screened for cervical cancer by VIA.

Results: a total of 418 participants were included with a median age of 34 years IQR (30-40 years). Two² hundred participants (48%) had never heard about cervical cancer. About 134 participants (32%) knew at least one risk factor of cervical cancer. Only 37 women (9%) reported ever being screened for cervical cancer. Twenty-two percent reported concurrent sexual partnerships. The majority of the women (92%) are willing to pay to get screened for cervical pre-cancer by VIA. Overall, 21 participants (5%) were diagnosed with a cervical lesion by VIA and all of them accepted treatment with Loop electro surgical procedure.

Conclusion: screening by VIA is feasible in rural Burkina Faso, but there is a poor knowledge on cervical cancer amongst the women. There is a need to set up a comprehensive, systematic, affordable and efficient cervical cancer program including an information campaign and making screening accessible in rural remote areas.