Revista de SIDA e investigación clínica

Low Prevalence of Cervical Cancer Screening Among HIV-Positive Women in Catalonia (Spain)

Abstract

Valeria Stuardo, Cristina Agustí and Jordi Casabona Behalf HPV-PISCIS Study Group

There is evidence that HIV-positive women in Catalonia are at high risk for cervical cancer and have a high prevalence of oncogenic genotypes. Catalonia’s screening protocol recommends that HIV-positive women undergo Pap smear at least annually, and more frequently depending on CD4 count. The objective of the present study is to describe the cervical cancer screening among HIV-positive women in Catalonia, with an emphasis on screening coverage. This study included 479 HIV-positive women from the PISCIS cohort. Participants completed a clinicalepidemiological survey that included sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and screening history variables. All patients also underwent a gynecological exam, including endocervical sampling for conventional or liquid cytology (Papanicolau). 50.6% of the women reported annual PAP screenings; 11% had never had a Pap smear; and screening coverage for the last two-year was only 60.0%. The finding of low screening coverage is consistent with the high prevalence of cervical cancer in HIV-positive women in Catalonia. It is important to educate both medical professionals and HIV-positive women on the consequences of failure to screen for cervical cancer, diagnostic techniques to detect asymptomatic HPV, and methods of primary prevention.