Combined Screening of Cervical Cancer, Breast Cancer and Reproductive Tract Infections in Rural China

Objectives: To investigate the current prevalence and knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer andreproductive tract infections (RTIs) in rural Chinese women, and to explore the acceptance and feasibility ofimplementing a combined screening program in rural China.
Methods: A population-based, cross-sectionalstudy was conducted among women aged 30 to 59 years old in Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province from 2009 to2010. Socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of cervical cancer, breast cancer and RTIs, and the attitudetoward single or combined screening were collected by an interview questionnaire. Each participant receiveda clinical examination of the cervix, breast and reproductive tract. Examinations included visual inspection,mammography, laboratory tests and pathological diagnosis.
Results: A total of 1,530 women were enrolled inthis study. The prevalence of cervical precancerous lesions, suspicious breast cancer, suspicious benign breastdisease and RTIs was 1.4%, 0.2%, 14.0% and 54.3%, respectively. Cervicitis, trichomonas vaginitis, and bacterialvaginitis were the three most common RTIs among our participants. Television, radio broadcast, and publiceducation during screening were the major source of healthcare knowledge in rural China. Moreover 99.7%of women expressed great interest in participating in a combined screening project. The affordable limit forcombined screening project was only 50 RMB for more than half of the rural women.
Conclusion: A combinedscreening program would be more effective and popular than single disease screening projects, while appropriateaccompanied education and a co-pay model for its successful implementation need to be explored, especially inlow-resource settings.