Colposcopic Evaluation of VIA-Positive Cases in a Primary Healthcare Setting of Sreepur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Open Access

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women in developing countries. Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is an effective, low-cost screening tool for early detection of precancerous cervical lesions, especially in resource-limited settings like Bangladesh. Colposcopy serves as a confirmatory diagnostic procedure following VIA positivity. Methods and materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Upazila Health Complex, Sreepur, Gazipur, from January 2022 to December 2023, including 300 VIA-positive women aged 20–60 years. Demographic and clinical data were recorded, and all participants underwent standardized colposcopic evaluation. Colposcopic findings were classified into normal, inflammatory, low-grade, high-grade, or suspicious for invasive carcinoma. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0. Results: Among 300 VIA-positive women, 143 (47.7%) were confirmed colposcopically positive, while 157 (52.3%) showed no abnormal findings, indicating a false-positive rate of 52.3%. Among the colposcopically positive cases, CIN-I was detected in 27.69%, CIN-II in 18.46%, and CIN-III in 1.54% of women. Most participants were aged 30–49 years and of low socioeconomic status. The findings suggest that VIA is an effective primary screening tool, though confirmatory colposcopy remains essential for accurate diagnosis and lesion grading. Conclusion: Colposcopy is essential for confirming and grading cervical epithelial abnormalities in VIA-positive women. This study highlights the value of integrating VIA and colposcopy at primary and tertiary care levels to ensure early detection and timely management of precancerous cervical lesions. Enhancing awareness, provider training, and follow-up can help reduce cervical cancer incidence and improve women’s reproductive health outcomes in Bangladesh.