Prevalence of Abnormal PAP Smear in Pregnancy: A Hospital-Based Study in Western Nepal

  • Aruna Pokharel Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7592-5222
  • Arati Shrestha Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal
  • Deepak Shrestha Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal
  • Shreyashi Aryal Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal
  • Archana Tiwari Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal
Keywords: Carcinoma cervix, PAP smear, Pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical carcinoma is the third most common malignancy worldwide. The World Health Organization in 2014 reported the crude incidence rate of cervical cancer in Nepal as 24.2 per 100,000 women per year. This study was carried out with the aim of finding out the prevalence of cervical smear abnormality in pregnancy. Methods: An observational study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary center for a period of one year from May 2021 to April 2022. All pregnant women up to 28 weeks of gestation who had National Health Insurance coming for antenatal check-ups underwent PAP smear test. The cytological results were reported based on the Bethesda classification system 2001. Results: Of 200 pregnant women enrolled in the study, the Pap smear report revealed that 32% of the study subjects had inflammatory smear showing candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis with reactive inflammatory changes. However, 66.5% of the subjects showed negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy and only 0.5% of subjects had signs related to carcinoma cervix in which the subject had a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.  No satisfactory sample was reported in 1% of the subjects. Conclusion: Pap smear during pregnancy not only gives the opportunity to screen but also helps to create awareness.

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Author Biographies

Aruna Pokharel, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal

Lecturer,

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Arati Shrestha, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal

Lecturer,

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Deepak Shrestha, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal

Associate Professor,

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Shreyashi Aryal, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal

Associate Professor,

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Archana Tiwari, Lumbini Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Tansen-7, Palpa, Nepal

Associate Professor,

Department of Pathology.

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Published
2023-01-20
How to Cite
1.
Pokharel A, Shrestha A, Shrestha D, Aryal S, Tiwari A. Prevalence of Abnormal PAP Smear in Pregnancy: A Hospital-Based Study in Western Nepal. J Lumbini Med Coll [Internet]. 20Jan.2023 [cited 14Jan.2025];10(2):8 pages. Available from: https://jlmc.edu.np/index.php/JLMC/article/view/489
Section
Original Research Article