Effect of VIA screening by primary health workers: randomized controlled study in Mumbai, India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality among women in India. Because Pap smear screening is not feasible in India, we need to develop effective alternatives.

Methods

A cluster-randomized controlled study was initiated in 1998 in Mumbai, India, to investigate the efficacy of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) performed by primary health workers in reducing cervical cancer mortality. Four rounds of cancer education and VIA screening were conducted at 24-month intervals in the screening group, whereas cancer education was offered once at entry to the control group. The study was planned for 16 years to include four screening rounds followed by four monitoring rounds. We present results after 12 years of follow-up. Poisson regression method was

SUBMITTER: Shastri SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3982783 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature