Screening for Precancerous Cervical Lesions by Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and Lugol in Women Undergoing Hemodialysis in A Resource-Limited Country

Introduction: Women undergoing haemodialysis represent a particularly vulnerable population due to their chronically altered immune system. Visual inspection with acetic acid and lugol are alternative screening methods that have proved effective in various parts of the world. The aim of this study was to determine cervical abnormalities detected by visual inspection with acetic acid and lugol in women undergoing haemodialysis in a resource-limited country. Methods: This was a 3-month descriptive cross-sectional study from February 1 to April 30, 2024, including chronic hemodialysis women who underwent systematic visual inspection with acetic acid and lugol for suspicious cervical lesions. Data were collected by direct interview, literature review, gynecological examination including breast palpation, speculum examination. Results: Of the 83 haemodialysis patients, 90.4% had participated in the study, with the greatest number in the 36-55 age group, each accounting for 40%. A third of participants had no education (34.7%). More than half the women (54.7%) were married. The majority of participants were multigestational (62.7%), multiparous (54.7%) and 41.3% of women reported repeated genital infections. The prevalence of suspicious cervical lesions was 5.33%. Conclusion: Systematic screening with visual inspection with acetic acid and visual inspection with lugol in hemodialysis centers in Guinea could represent a major advance in the fight against cervical cancer.