Socio-Demographic and Clinical Profile of Women with Cervical Cancer in a Tertiary Care Centre in India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women in developing countries. Despite being largely preventable through screening and vaccination, late presentation remains common in India.

Objective: To evaluate the socio-demographic and clinical profile of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in a tertiary care centre.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Umarda, Udaipur, Rajasthan. A total of 92 women diagnosed with carcinoma cervix were included over 18 months. Data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, reproductive history, awareness regarding cervical cancer, screening practices, clinical presentation, and stage of disease were collected using a structured proforma.

Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 48.2 ± 7.5 years, with the majority of patients (48.91%) belonging to the 41–50 years age group. Most women were illiterate (67.39%), manual labourers (46.74%), and belonged to lower socioeconomic class (69.57%). Awareness regarding cervical cancer was present in only 3.26%, while knowledge about HPV vaccination was reported by 1.09% of participants. Only 2.17% had previously undergone Pap smear screening.

Conclusion: Women with cervical cancer in this study predominantly belonged to lower socioeconomic and poorly educated backgrounds and presented with advanced stage disease. The findings highlight the urgent need to improve awareness, screening coverage, and HPV vaccination programs.