Magnitude of precancerous cervical cancer lesions and associated factors among HIV positive women in Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abebech Haile Dinberia^1*Habtamu Molla Ayele^2*Meaza Zeleke Wodajo³

• ¹Department of Public Health Nutrition, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• ²Maternal and Child Health Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• ³Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract Background: Cervical cancer is one of the major cause of morbidity and mortality among women in low and middle income countries. This problem is more severe in developing countries. This study was designed to identify the magnitude and determinants of precancerous cervical lesions in HIV-positive women at Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the magnitude and associated factors of precancerous cervical lesions among HIV-positive women in Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2022. Methods: This institution-based cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted. The calculated sample size was 361 using a single population proportion, and the final study participants were HIV-positive clients who were eligible for cervical cancer screening, selected using a simple random sampling method, with a response rate of 100%. Data were collected from each study participant through using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-Info version 7, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship or statistical association between the independent and dependent variables, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were computed. Results: A total of 361 women who had follow-up in anti-retroviral therapy clinic were included in the study, and the magnitude of pre-cancerous cervical cancer lesions was 16.6%. History of sexually transmitted disease (AOR=4.88, 95% CI: 1.66 -14.36, p-value= 0.004), history of smoking (AOR=9.35, 95% CI: 3.15 – 27.75, p-value= 0.000), and abortion (AOR=3.23, 95% CI: 1.58 – 6.58, p-value= 0.001) were significantly associated with precancerous cervical cancer lesions. Conclusion and recommendations: The Magnitude of Precancerous Cervical lesions in this study was high. A history of abortion, smoking, and sexually transmitted infections were strongly associated with precancerous cervical cancer lesions among women with human immunodeficiency virus. Hence, taking preventive measures against sexually transmitted infections and repeated abortions, discourages cigarette smoking needs to be stressed.