A study of association between cervical cytology and period of co-habitation with husbands in the wives of serving soldiers

Abstract Background The wives of serving soldiers constitute a special demographic cohort, as they spend variable amount of time in co-habitation with their husbands. The present study aims to find if any independent association, adjusted for age, exists between the time spent living together with the husband and findings on cervical smear. Methods Over a period of one year, cervical smears were taken from subjects at two different hospitals. The approximate length of co-habitation with husbands in the last 10 years was elicited through a questionnaire. Results Among 262 subjects, majority of smears showed normal findings (82.06%). 17.93% of the smears displayed abnormality, the maximum proportion of cases with abnormal findings were seen in the group who have spent 61–90 months, in the last ten years. Age adjusted chi square statistics failed to show statistically significant association between period of co-habitation and abnormal Pap smear. Odds’ ratio (OR) for each age stratum varied from each other and was also different from the overall (crude) OR, suggesting that age is an effect modifier. Variation in epithelial cytology did not appear to be an effect of duration of cohabitation but was because of the increasing age. Conclusions Cervical cytology does not show association with length of cohabitation with husbands in this study. However, age is seen to be an effect modifier.