Abstract

Umaru Inuwa, Calvin Chama, Bala Audu, Jessy Obed, Haruna Ngadda, Mohammed Bukar, Salisu Kwayabura, Babagana Bako, Ballah Akawu Denue, Ukaobasi Alex, Bukar Musa, Anna Peter

Background: Universal access to antiretroviral therapy has resulted in increased life expectancy among HIV infected women clients, however the risk of certain clinical conditions including premalignant lesion of the cervix may remain or enhanced compared with HIV negative control. Objectives: To compare the prevalence and the risk factors of abnormal Pap smear among HIV positive and HIV negative women attending clinics of two tertiary hospitals in Northeastern Nigeria. Methodology: This was a hospital based case control cross sectional study involving three hundred and sixty-five consecutive consenting HIV infected women and three hundred and sixty-five HIV non- infected women. Socioeconomic and clinical variables, abnormal Pap smear and CD4 cell count of all the HIV positive women were recorded. Results: Abnormal Pap smear among HIV infected women of 47.94 % (18.1% epithelial and 29.8% benign cells abnormalities) in this report was higher than 31.78% (8.0% epithelial and 23.78% benign cells abnormalities) among HIV non-infected women. A negative correlation was observed between CD4 cell count and the abnormal Pap smear. Other correlates of abnormal Pap smear include early coitache, multiple sexual partners and low social class. Conclusion: HIV infection is associated with increased risk of abnormal Pap smear in women. Other risk factors associated with abnormal Pap smear, include early coitache, multiple sexual partners and low social class. Recommendation: Cervical screening should be included among investigations in evaluating HIV infected women.