Evaluating the Effectiveness of Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid as a Cervical Cancer Screening Tool: A Comparative Study with Pap Smear in Low-Resource Settings

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer significantly impacts women’s health worldwide, especially in low-resource settings where access to preventive screening is limited. Persistent HPV infection, particularly with types 16 and 18, is the primary cause. Pap smear screening has reduced cervical cancer rates in high-income countries but is challenging to implement in low-resource areas due to cost and infrastructure needs. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) as an alternative screening tool by evaluating its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV).

Material and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from August 2022 to January 2024 at SRMS Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly. Women aged 21 to 65 who met inclusion criteria were screened using VIA and pap smear tests. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Ethical approval and patient consent were obtained.

Results: VIA demonstrated high sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV, showing a statistically significant correlation with pap smear findings. This highlights VIA’s reliability for detecting cervical abnormalities.

Conclusion: VIA is a practical and effective alternative to pap smear for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. Its affordability and ability to provide immediate results make it a valuable tool for early detection of cervical abnormalities and intervention.