Daniel Garhalangwanamuntu Mayeri
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo; Ecole Régionale de Santé Publique, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo; Department of Pathology, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Pierre Mulumeoderhwa Kahasha
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Isaac Barhishindi Kibalama
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Jules Mongane
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Medina Louguè
Department of Pathology, Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Etienne Kajibwami Birindwa
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Serge Chentwali Mwimangire
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Claude Kalegamire Kikuru
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Jeanne Maningo Materanya
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Yvette Kujirakwinja Bisimwa
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Benjamin Kasago
Department of Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Léon-Emmanuel Mubenga Mukengeshai
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
Abstract
Introduction: cervical cancer is a health concern worldwide. The South Kivu Province in the Eastern DR Congo is facing many cases of this disease but poorly screened and reported. The objective of this was to determine the prevalence of cell abnormalities at cervical cytology in a tertiary teaching hospital in Bukavu and their association with common risk factors of cervical cancer.
Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted on 142 women attending the Provincial Referral Hospital of Bukavu (HPGRB) from February to December 2021. Quantitative variables were described by their median following their asymmetric distributions and the qualitative variables in absolute and relative frequencies. Then the Chi-square test was used for the comparison of proportion.
Results: forty-five percent of the participants had between three and five children. Twenty-two (15.5%) of the 142 patients reported to have two or more sexual partners and 17.5% reported the use of hormonal contraception. The prevalence of cell abnormalities at cervical cytology was 17% of which Low- Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) was the most representative (12.9%). There was no statistically significant association between the common cervical risk factors and the occurrence of cell abnormalities.
Conclusion: cervical precancerous lesions are frequent in South Kivu province. The Pap smear test remains an early and affordable screening method and constitutes a secondary prevention strategy in women of 18 years and older in a low-income country such as DR Congo where vaccination against HPV is still hypothetic.
