Abstract:
Background Human immune-deficiency virus makes it difficult for the body to
fight the incidence and reoccurrence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
which is associated with cervical cancer. People with HIV infection thus have a
higher risk for cervical cancer. The objective of the study was to determine
factors associated with co-morbidity of HIV and cervical cancer in Swaziland.
Methods A retrospective review was conducted at Mbabane Government
Hospital, the national referral hospital in Swaziland. All histologically confirmed
cervical cancer records from 2010 to 2012 with HIV status documentation were
considered for analysis. Univariate logistic regression was used to determine the
association between HIV and age, marital status, parity, cancer staging and
treatment option. Multivariate logistic regression was used to establish the
predictive model.
Findings It was found that out of 257 cervical cancer patients, 60% (n=155)
were HIV positive. Patients that were less than 49 years of age were 5·96 times
(CI: 3·4 – 10·4) more likely to be HIV positive than HIV negative patients.
Patients that were never married were 3.7 times more likely to be HIV positive
than married patients (CI: 1.96 – 6·83). Patients that had parity of two and less
were 3.7 times more likely to be HIV positive.
Interpretation In summary, the results of this study imply that age, parity and
marital status are the main factors associated with comorbidity of HIV and
cervical cancer in Swaziland. This calls for targeted screening of women
particularly single women within 33 and 47 years old found positive.
