Screening for cervical cancer (By VIA Test) among selected garments worker in Chattogram, Bangladesh

Background: Bangladesh is a densely populated country of South East Asia with low resource setting where cervical cancer is the 2nd leading cause of female cancer. In more than 80% cases are diagnosed at advanced and inoperable stage. Regarding socio demographic context of this country VIA has been introduced as a screening method for cervical cancer which is most simple, cost effective, and acceptable test for all women. In Bangladesh among 3 million garment workers more than 80% are women. The objective of this study was to identify prevalence of VIA positive cases among garment workers. So that it can reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in Bangladesh.Methods: It was a cross杝ectional observational study conducted in some selected garment factories in Chattogram city of Bangladesh from January 2021 to July 2021, where we enrolled 534 female workers for VIA test.Results: Among all the respondents 56% were 30 years or younger, 38% were aged between 31 to 40 years. Among 534 participants, 44.9% completed primary education, 37.3% were smoker and 34.5% had their children at early age. Majority (86.7%) had excessive whitish discharge. Post coital bleeding and irregular bleeding was 2.6% and 2.2% respectively. Considering awareness, 61.8% had idea about cervical cancer, only 1.1% had undergone VIA test in the past. In our study we found 2.4% of participants were VIA positive cases.Conclusions: It is important to include the garment workers, while making public health policies and implementation of cervical cancer control program.