Dissertation (MMed Obstetrics and Gynecology)
Background: A worldwide estimated annual case of cervical cancer is 528,000 and ends with 266,000 annual deaths. In developing countries, it accounts for about 85% for both morbidity and mortality. In sub-Saharan Africa the incidence is 25.2%, mortality 23.2% and five-year prevalence is 27.6%. In Tanzania the rate of cervical cancer is 54.4% per 100,000 people a year. This indicates that, cervical cancer is a public health concern in Tanzania.
Objective: assessing clinical profile and presentation of cervical cancer patients and its relationship with the common histological types at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital.
Methods: Hospital based observational cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2019 at Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital. A pretested data questionnaire was used as a data collection tool; data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: the study included 83 participants; mean (Standard Deviation) age of diagnosis of cervical cancer was 55 ± 13 years. Majority of the women were married (50.6%) and (98.8%) of the women had no employment; this study presented that (87%) of the patients presented in the 2nd stage. The study indicated that, squamos cell carcinoma was the most common histological type. It was also observed that the common presenting symptom was post-coital bleeding by (90.4%).
Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need for the development and implementation of an efficient screening cum prevention program for cervical cancer. The study argues to continue active research in the domains of identifying all possible risk factors and steps to mitigate them