title: Prevalence of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions among HIV-positive women in Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria.
abstract: HIV infection is a risk factor for cervical cancer and both diseases are prevalent in Nigeria. The study determined the prevalence of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) among HIV-positive women in Enugu state, which has the highest HIV burden in South-eastern Nigeria. Pap smear was carried out on 150 HIV-positive (HIV+ve) women and 150 HIV-negative (HIV?ve) controls at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria from December 2007 to March 2008. The prevalence of SIL for the HIV+ve group and the control group were 12.6% and 4.6%, respectively (p = 0.014). Also, the prevalence of each category of SIL identified in the study, was higher among the HIV+ve group. There is an association between HIV infection and SIL in Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria. Cervical cancer screening should be incorporated into the antiretroviral (ARV) clinics, so as to prevent the impending surge in the burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Nigeria. dyme72@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Dim
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Ezegwui
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ikeme
authors.forename: U I
authors.initials: UI
authors.lastname: Nwagha
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Onyedum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult