PRE-CANCEROUS CERVICAL LESION USING VISUAL INSPECTION WITH ACETIC ACID AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING ANTI-RETROVIRAL THERAPY IN TIGRAY HOSPITALS, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA.

Haftom Gebrehiwot W/aregay, *Sheeba Kumari and Yemane Berhane

ABSTRACT

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death for middle-aged women in the developing world, yet it is almost completely preventable if precancerous lesions are identified and treated in a timely manner. Despite this fact, very few women receive screening and testing services in developing countries including Ethiopia. Methods: A facility based cross sectional studies both quantitative and qualitative methods were conducted from April to June/2015 at Tigray Public hospitals. Data were checked, coded and entered to Epi-info version 7, and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis and multiple logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. The transcribed and translated qualitative data was triangulated and thematically described. Results: A total number of 88 (20.2 %(95% CI = 13%, 29%) human subjects had positive Visual Inspection with Acetic acid test among four hundred thirty five (435) HIV infected women. Having ever history of sexually transmitted disease (AOR=4.04, 95%CI: 2.19, 7.44), Age at first birth less than 18 years (AOR=3.36, 95%CI: 1.79, 6.32), Having more than one lifetime sexual partner (AOR=2.91, 95%CI: 1.13, 7.52),and Base line CD4 count less than 200cells/mm3 before HAART (AOR=7.51, 95%CI: 3.58, 15.68) were factors associated with precancerous cervical lesion. Conclusions: The magnitude of precancerous Cervical Lesion is high.Ever history of sexually transmitted disease, Age at first birth less than 18 years, having more than one lifetime sexual partner and Base line CD4 count less than 200cells/mm3 before HAART were factors associated with precancerous cervical lesion. Thus, therefore, screening for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia is recommended for all women with HIV.

Keywords: Cervical cancer, VIA, Precancerous Cervical Lesion, & HIV.