title: Cytopathological Examination and Epidemiological Study of Cervicitis in Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) in Coal City (Enugu), Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  llicit sexual behavior by commercial sex workers (CSW) may have a disproportionate impact on the reproductive health of a woman that often leads to cervicitis. This study aimed at examining the cytopathology, patterns, prevalence and burden of cervicitis in CSW in Enugu metropolis, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervical smear was collected from the endocervix of about one hundred and eighteen (n=118) CSWs between November, 2014 and February, 2015 using the liquid-based cytology (LBC) method. Smears were processed and stained by the modified Papanicolaou method. Leftover samples were tested for sexually transmitted diseases, especially N. gonorrhea, and C. trachomatis using ligase chain reaction and nucleic acid amplification test. A randomized sampling design was used for data collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cytopathological examination of cervicitis in CSWs showed a moderate infection, and moderately severe to chronic inflammatory cells. The epidemiological study revealed that acute cervicitis are predominant 7(5.9%) and 2(1.7%) are chronic cervicitis. The prevalence of CSWs living with cervicitis in Enugu, Nigeria (7.6%), is significantly affected by age and working duration as CSWs. Also, Chlamydia trachomatis is the solely associated pathogen implicated in cervicitis group (n=9). Candidiasis infection (n=12) and T. vaginalis (n=3) are observed in non-cervicitis group (n=109) while the association between C. trachomatis and cervicitis infection is statistically significant (P= 0.0221).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute cervicitis was prevalent with a preponderance of 4:1 in CSWs in Enugu, Nigeria. C. trachomatis infection was the most prevalent etiologic agent of cervicitis in this study. Further molecular study of LBC smears from CSWs using PCR is strongly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Science, College of Medical Science, University of Benin, Nigeria ; Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Odigie Bolaji
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Efosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Achukwu Peter
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Uwadiegwu
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011477:Sex Work; D060386:Sex Workers; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Candidiasis; Cervicitis; Cervix; Chlamydia trachomatis and Cytopathology; cervical smear