Effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of cryotherapy by midwives for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in Maharashtra, India
Received 27 May 2008; received in revised form 23 July 2008; accepted 25 July 2008. published online 26 September 2008.
Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of cryotherapy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) when provided by trained midwives in rural India.
Method
Women with colposcopic findings of CIN lesions suitable for ablative treatment received cryotherapy from trained midwives before the biopsy results were known. Cure rates, adverse effects, and complications were assessed and factors influencing cure rates were evaluated by tests. Cure was defined as no clinical or histologic evidence of CIN lesions 6 or more months after treatment.
Results
Of 1068 women treated with cryotherapy, 728 had histologically proven CIN in their pretreatment biopsy specimens; of the 574 reporting for follow-up, 538 (93.7%) were cured (95% confidence interval [CI], 92.1%–96.3%). Cure rates were 96.4% (95% CI, 94.6%–98.1%) for CIN 1 and 82.1% (95% CI, 74.7%–89.4%) for CIN 2 and CIN 3 lesions combined. Minor adverse effects were documented in 5.2% of the women.
Conclusion
Cryotherapy provided by midwives was found to be safe, effective, and acceptable by the women.
cScreening Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
Corresponding author. Screening Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon cedex 08, France. Tel.: +33 472 73 85 99; fax: +33 472 73 85 18.
ABSTRACT
