Frequency of cervical premalignant lesions in the gynecologic patients of a tertiary hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide and is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in 23 countries and the most common cause of death in 36 countries, mostly from Sub-Saharan African countries. Cervical screening is a key element to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. Cancer screening is low in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to provide information about cervical premalignant lesions frequency in Somalia.

Methods: The pathology results of cervicovaginal smear samples obtained from patients aged 25-65 years who applied to the gynecology outpatient clinic between October 5 and December 5, 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. SPSS 22.0 was used for the statistical analysis of the data.

Result: Among the 497 results, 63 premalignant lesions were detected. The rate of premalignant lesions (63/497) was found to be 12.3%. The most common premalignant lesion was atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US).

Conclusion: In this study, the frequency of cervical premalignant lesions in Somalia was found to be higher than in the literature. Vaccination, screening, and early diagnosis are the most important components in the fight against cervical cancer. Access to vaccination, screening, and early diagnosis, which are the most important components in the fight against cervical cancer in Somalia, will be possible with the cooperation of the national health system and international organizations.