title: The burden, distribution and risk factors for cervical oncogenic human papilloma virus infection in HIV positive Nigerian women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The expected reduction in cervical cancer incidence as a result of increased access to antiretroviral therapy is yet to be seen. In this study we investigated the effect of HIV infection and treatment on high-risk (hr) human papilloma virus (HPV) prevalence and distribution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervical cells from 515 (220 HIV positive and 295 HIV negative) women, recruited during community cervical cancer screening programme in states of Ogun and Lagos and at the cervical cancer screen clinic, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Lagos were evaluated for the presence of 13 hr HPV genotypes by polymerase chain reaction based assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of high-risk HPV was 19.6% in the studied population. HPV 16 (3.9%), 35 (3.5%), 58 (3.3%) and 31 (3.3%) were the most common hr HPV infections detected. We observed that the prevalence of hr HPV was higher in HIV positives (24.5%) than 15.9% in HIV negative women (OR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.7). A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a lower hr HPV prevalence in HIV positive women on antiretroviral drugs (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.5) and with CD4 count of 500 and above (OR = 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5-0.8). A higher prevalence of hr HPV was also noted in HIV positive women with CD4 count < 200 cells/mm³ (OR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7-5.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPV 16, 35, 58 and 31 genotypes were the most common hr HPV infection in our study group, which could be regarded as high risk general population sample; with higher prevalence of HPV 16 and 35 in HIV positive women than in HIV negative women. The use of antiretroviral drugs was found to be associated with a lower prevalence of hr HPV infection, compared to those not on treatment. This study raises important issues that should be further investigated to enable the development of robust cervical cancer prevention and control strategies for women in our setting.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria. oezechi@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Oliver Chukwujekwu
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Ezechi
authors.forename: Per Olof
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Ostergren
authors.forename: Francisca Obiageri
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Nwaokorie
authors.forename: Innocent Achaya Otobo
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ujah
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Odberg Pettersson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence; D060737:Reproductive Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult