title: Precancerous Cervix in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Women Thirty Years Old and above in Northern Uganda.
abstract: Background. Little is known about precancerous cervical lesion (PCCL), the precursor of cervical cancer among Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) infected women in a postconflict setting of Northern Uganda. Objective. To establish factors associated with PCCL among HIV infected women above thirty years of age in a postconflict setting of Northern Uganda. Method. This retrospective cohort study used electronic data from 995 HIV-positive women that attended cervical cancer screening during June 2014 and December 2015. Data on social, sexual, obstetric, and gynecological factors was analyzed at 95% confidence level. Multivariate analysis determined factors independently associated with positive PCCL. Probability value less than 5% was considered significant. Results. Prevalence of PCCL was 3.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0-4.3). A positive PCCL was significantly associated with absence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during clinic visits (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 0.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.09-0.64; P = 0.004) and first pregnancy before the age of 20 years (aOR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.21-7.89; P = 0.018). Conclusion. The prevalence of PCCL was low in the postconflict setting of Northern Uganda. HIV-positive women presenting with STDs and those with first pregnancy before the age of 20 years were at increased risk of PCCL.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health and Management, International Health Sciences University, P.O. Box 7782, Kampala, Uganda; Uganda Society for Health Scientists, Department of Anatomy, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9065-0389
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Izudi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health and Management, International Health Sciences University, P.O. Box 7782, Kampala, Uganda; The AIDS Support Organization, TASO Gulu, P.O. Box 347, Gulu, Uganda.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adrawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Dinah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amongin