Analysis of lifestyle data and cytologic findings in a pilot cervical screening project in rural Vietnam

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possibilities of a cervical cytology screening p rogram and the importance of lifestyle parameters in women living in rural Vietnam. STUDY DESIGN: Screening took place in Quangninh province in the north of Vi etnam. Front 700 women screened for the first time, smears were prepared an d read by a cytotechnologist. The number of children and abortions (some wo men having had 10 abortions) allowed us to study the relationship of these life-style parameters with disturbed vaginal ecology (defined as the presen ce of Candida, trichomonads or cocci in the smear). RESULTS: The smears from farmers showed the greatest ecologic disturbances in vaginal flora. Water supply turned out to be important for coccoid overg rowth. Scores for both fungal infection and coccoid overgrowth were related to profession. Candidosis proved to be very prominent in cytologically neg ative smears: the organisms were found (often in abundance) in 95 of 661 ne gative smears brit were absent from cytologically positive smears. CONCLUSION: Since only two eases of CIN 3 were found and no cases of invasi ve carcinoma, cervical screening for cancer ought not to be the first prior ity for rural Vietnam.