Abstract

1*Dr. Onwuka Chidi Okorie (MBBS, FMCPath, FWACP) and 2Dr. Ojeh Samuel Ohidueme, FWACS

ABSTRACT

Background: Human Papilloma Virus has been established as the preeminent etiologic agent for cervical cancer and its precursor lesions. Because of the varying prevalence of the precursor lesions of cervical cancer in different communities, it is possible that the relevant risk factors also differ between communities. Objective: This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the pertinent risk factors of cervical neoplastic lesions in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Methodology: Four hundred and sixty six consenting females comprising 231 HIV positive women as cases and 235 HIV negative women as controls were recruited and screened for cervical cancer and its precursor lesions using conventional Pap smear between February 2013 and April 2014. A questionnaire was applied to elicit information on every woman’s background and relevant risk factors including socio-economic and marital status, menstrual and obstetric history and use of Oral contraceptive pills. Result: The study participants were aged between 18-60 years with a mean age of 35.24±9.26 years and 35.63±8.44 years in the HIV-positive and HIV-negative women respectively. Majority of the study participants (95.1% of the HNW and 89.3% of the HPW) were negative for Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (SILs). The prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology was more than two times higher in the HIV-positive women than in the HIV-negative women (10.6% vs 4.9%, p