[Feasibility of packaging screening for cervical cancer, breast cancer, and reproductive tract infection in a rural area in China].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of cervical cancer, breast cancer, and reproductive tract infection (RTI) among women living in a county of China, identify these women's recognition about these three diseases and their attitude toward the screening, and evaluate the feasibility of the packaging screening program in rural areas in China.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, women aged 30-59 living in Xiangyuan County, Shanxi Province, were surveyed by questionnaires and screened with visual inspection of cervix, breast clinic examination, and combined clinical examination and laboratory tests for RTI.

RESULTS

Totally 630 women underwent interviews and packaging screening. The prevalences of cervical precancerous lesion, breast benign disease, and RTI were 0.2%, 14.0%, and 53.2%, respectively. No cancer case was found. The percentages of women knowing cervical cancer, breast cancer, and RTI as common diseases in women were 70.5%, 63.5%, and 52.9% after health education. Up to 92.5% of women preferred packaging screening to screening for single disease; however, they were not willing to pay the screening at current high cost.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalences of breast benign disease and RTI are relatively high among women in rural areas in China. The women's recognition about these three diseases is moderately good. The packaging screening program is well accepted and feasible in rural areas.