Prevalence of Cervical Cancer and Associating Factors among HIV Infected Women of Omaruru District in Namibia

Abstract

In 2015 Namibia reported 55 deaths due to cervical cancer, and the prevalence of HIV was 13,3% among adults aged between 15 -49. There is an increased risk of cervical cancer among women living with HIV, the prevalence of this type of cancer and the association with risk factors is unknown at the Omaruru Hospital. High prevalence of HPV infection, advanced HIV disease, tobacco, multiple sexual partners, parity, and poor socio-economic conditions are listed among contributing factors that increase morbidity and mortality of cervical cancer, which can be controlled & cured if diagnosed early. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of cervical Cancer among HIV-positive women on ARVs and assess the risk factors contributing to the emergence of cervix cancer in this population. The approach methodologic used was a retrospective cross-sectional of 49 women randomly selected among those who were done pap smears at the Omaruru ART clinic between August 2016 to August 2017. There was no positive result for cervical cancers found. Hence, the prevalence of HPV was found to be 16,32%, with Cervical dysplasia 3 cases of CIN I and 5 cases of CIN II with no association established with risk factors, and a case of CIN II in a primigravida with multiple sexual partners were found. To conclude, a meaningful analysis with STATA 14 revealed no positive results for cervical cancer from the 49 cases with no risk factors association established,30.61% of negative HPV (30 - 39 years;28.57% (40-50 years), CIN II aged 30 to 39 years (4%);4% (40- 50 years) 2% above 50 years old. The HPV prevalence (16,32%,),3 cases of CIN 1, and 5 cases of CIN II are indicators that more efforts need to be made. Keywords: Cervical cancer prevalence, Cervical cancer screening, HPV prevalence, HIV women on antiretroviral treatment, primigravida, multiple sexual partners.