Cervical Precancerous Lesions and Cancer among Patients in the Gynaecology Outpatient Department at a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine proportional rates of cervical precancerous lesionsand cancer, and associations with socio-demographic variables, HIV status, and CD4 cell count. Materials and
Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted targeting the medical records of all women over age18 that were diagnosed histologically through colposcopy with cervical precancerous lesions and cancer from1 December 2011 to 30 November 2012.
Results: A total of 313 patient records were used for data analysis. Theaverage age was 39.1 (SD=2.04) years. More than a third (37.1%) of the patients had CIN III or cervical cancer.There was a significant association between age, CD4 cell count, HIV status, and cervical lesions (p<0.05). Agewas found to be an influential predictor of cervical lesions (OR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.46-0.98).
Conclusions: Thereexists an association between age and cervical lesions, with presentation of cervical precancerous lesions andcervical cancer at a younger age among HIV reactive patients. The National Guidelines should be brought inline with the National HIV Counseling and Testing Policy to offer Pap smears to all sexually active women thattest HIV reactive during routine HIV Testing.