HIV and cervical cancer in Kenya.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of the HIV epidemic on invasive cervical cancer in Kenya.


METHODS
Of the 3902 women who were diagnosed with reproductive tract malignancies at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) from 1989 to 1998, 85% had invasive cervical cancer. Age at presentation and severity of cervical cancer were studied for a 9-year period when national HIV prevalence went from 5% to 5-10%, to 10-15%.


RESULTS
There was no significant change in either age at presentation or severity of cervical cancer. Of the 118 (5%) women who were tested for HIV, 36 (31%) were seropositive. These women were 5 years younger at presentation than HIV-negative women.


CONCLUSIONS
A two- to three-fold increase in HIV prevalence in Kenya did not seem to have a proportional effect on the incidence of cervical cancer. Yet, HIV-positive women who presented with cervical cancer were significantly younger than HIV-negative women.
Gichangi
P
P
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
De Vuyst
H
H
Estambale
B
B
Rogo
K
K
Bwayo
J
J
Temmerman
M
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology