WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Nadean Sabah Manuel, Zanaib Abdul-Kareem Abdul-Salame, Nawras Jabbar Hussien

ABSTRACT

Background: Cervical cancer and its precursors remain significant public health concerns in low- and middle-income countries. To address this, a Cervical Cancer Screening Programme was recently launched in Basrah, Iraq. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer among enrolled women and to identify associated risk factors. Methods: This investigation consisted of two components. The first was a cross-sectional record-based study of 506 women enrolled in the Basrah cervical cancer screening programme between September 1, 2011, and August 31, 2012. The second part was a comparative cross-sectional study involving direct interviews or telephone-based questionnaires with 251 women from the initial cohort. Data sources included clinic records and structured questionnaires designed to assess potential risk factors. Results: The overall prevalence of CIN was 15.8%, with CIN I and CIN II accounting for 14.8% and 1%, respectively. Prevalence was higher among women aged ≥35 years (19%) compared to those aged <25 years (10.8%). Multivariate analysis identified previous genital infection (AOR=7.187; 95% CI: 1.904–27.123), low socioeconomic status (AOR=6.722; 95% CI: 1.857–30.048), and passive smoking (AOR=2.672; 95% CI: 1.216–11.084) as significant independent risk factors. Other factors such as long marital duration, miscarriage history, and non-use of barrier contraception were initially significant but lost significance after adjustment. Conclusion: The study underscores a moderate prevalence of CIN in Basrah and identifies modifiable risk factors. Continued screening and further epidemiological research are essential to inform prevention strategies and reduce cervical cancer burden in Iraq.