Cervical Intra-epithelial Neoplasia (CIN) among Young Women in Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

Background: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is a premalignant lesion of the cervix that progresses into cervical cancer if untreated. An early diagnosis which determines the treatment of CIN is a preventive measure of cervical cancer. Diagnosis in a developing setting like Nigeria lacks screening programmes which may affect early detection of the disease. Aim: the study aimed at determining the prevalence of CIN and the pattern of cytological abnormality in young women in Jos, Nigeria. Methods: the cross-sectional study involved 200 women aged 15-45 years. A cervical smear was obtained from these women and the cytological features determined using the Papanicolaou method. The cytological features were grouped into Normal smears, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSIL), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL). Frequencies were determined and their prevalence rates calculated. Results: the overall prevalence of CIN was 61/200(30.5%) and the pattern of cytological abnormality were ASC-US 28/200(14%), LGSIL 31/200(15.5%), HGSIL 30/200(15%). The age group with the highest CIN prevalence was 40-45 years (11.5%). Conclusion: the prevalence of CIN is high and a need for regular cervical screening programme to identify and monitor women with premalignant lesions for the purpose of early treatment.