Cervical dysplasia in HIV infected women in Maiduguri, Nigeria

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been shown to be a risk factor for premalignant and malignant conditions of the cervix. Patients attending the gynaecological clinic of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital received voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV. All patients who were screened for HIV also had their pap smear taken. Cervical dysplasia was significantly commoner among HIV infected women than those that were HIV negative (31.3% vs 7.8%, respectively). The incidence of cervical dysplasia was also proportional to the degree of immunosuppression as women with low CD4 count had higher incidence of cervical dysplasia. The population studied was generally promiscuous irrespective of their HIV status, with over 90% of them having multiple sexual partners. It is recommended that health education in this population should be aimed at discouraging multiple sexual partners. Gynaecologists should be co-care providers to all HIV+ women in view of the menace of cervical dysplasia.