Abstract:
Background: Cervical cancer is the predominant cancer among women in Kenya and second most common in
women in developing regions. Population-based cytological screening and early treatment reduces morbidity and
mortality associated with the cancer. We determined the occurrence of cervical precancerous changes and cervical
microbial infections (Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, Neisseria gonorrhea and Actinomyces) among women
attending Family Health Option Kenya (FHOK) clinic in Thika.
Methods: This was a hospital based cross sectional study among women attending reproductive health screening
clinic from November 2013 to January 2014. Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) I, II, III, cervical cancer and
microbial infection (Actinomyces, Trichomonas vaginalis and Yeast cells) diagnosis was based on Pap smear
screening test and High Vaginal Swab wet preparation microscopy. Neisseria gonorrhea was diagnosed
through Gram staining. Socio-demographic and reproductive health data was collected using a structured
questionnaire administered to the study participants and analyzed using Epi Info version 3.5.1.
Results: Of the 244 women screened, 238 (97.5%) presented with cervical inflammation, 80 (32.8%) cervical
microbial infections and 12 (4.9%) cervical precancerous changes; 10 (83.3%) with CIN I and 2 (16.7%) CIN II.
Of the 80 cervical microbial infections, 62 (77.5%) were yeast cell and 18 (22.5%) T. vaginalis. One thirty four
(55%) participants had no history of Pap smear screening of which 84 (62.7%) were 20–40 years. Use of
IUCDs (OR: 2.47, 95% CI 1.3–4.6) was associated with cervical inflammation.
Conclusions: CIN I was the predominant cervical precancerous change. There is need to scale up cervical
screening test to capture all categories of women.
