Purpose: In recent years, some authors have reported a high prevalence of cervical cancer in HIV depressed patients. As our unit also aims to protect HIV-positive patients of all diseases or all opportunist infections it was found appropriate to conduct this study in order to contribute to the early detection of precancerous lesions of the cervix (LPC) using the VIA technique with our patients.
Methods: This study which is a longitudinal prospective one was conducted in a descriptive and analytical perspective. It was carried out within the voluntary testing centre (VTC) of the Department of Dermato-Venereology of the University Hospital of Treichville and in collaboration with the Department of Gynecology. The recruitment of patients was done within a 4-month-period using a survey form. The study included 150 women screened HIV+ under anti-retroviral treatment (ARV) within the VTC. They were followed up at 4-month intervals. They were aged 18 or upper. They agreed to participate in this study on a verbal consent basis. None of them were commercial sex workers.
Results: Demographics of PLWHA in our study were similar to those observed in the literature;
• 16/150 women had a positive VIA test (10.6%);
• The factors favoring the occurrence of cervical PCL in our study were:
- Age of the first sexual intercourse;
- The existence of vulvar warts, genital herpes and a cervicovaginitis;
- CD4 level <200/mm3.
Conclusion: The cancer of the cervix as a concern for any woman is also a concern for those living with HIV. Its real extent in women infected with HIV is still unknown in our country because large scale screening is not conducted given financial difficulties. We believe that the method of detection of PCL using VIA technique should be encouraged because of its affordability in a limited resource countries of ours.
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