Under the National Cancer Screening Programme (NP-NCD), opportunistic screening for cervical cancer at Health and Wellness Centres uses which primary screening method?

• A Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) ✓
• B Conventional Pap smear
• C Liquid-based cytology (LBC)
• D HPV DNA testing (co-testing)

Explanation

At Health and Wellness Centres (primary level) in India's NP-NCD, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is the operationally feasible primary screening method for cervical cancer as it does not require laboratory infrastructure, can be performed by trained ANMs/nurses, and provides immediate results for screen-and-treat. Women with VIA-positive results are referred for colposcopy. HPV DNA testing is being piloted as a more sensitive primary screening method.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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