Screening for human papillomavirus, cervical cytological abnormalities and associated risk factors in HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative women in Rwanda

Objectives Cervical cancer is the major cause of death from cancer in Africa. We wanted to assess the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and associated risk factors and to determine whether HPV testing could serve as a screening method for squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) in Rwanda. We also wanted to obtain a broader understanding of the underlying risk factors for the establishment of HPV infection in Rwanda. Methods A total of 206 HIV‐positive women, 172 HIV‐negative women and 22 women with unknown HIV status were recruited at the University Teaching Hospitals of Kigali (UTHK) and of Butare (UTHB) in Rwanda. Participants underwent an interview, cervical sampling for a Thinprep Pap test and a screening test analysing 37 HPV strains. Results Only 27% of HIV‐positive women and 7% of HIV‐negative women had been screened for cervical cancer before. HPV16 and HPV52 were the most common HPV strains. HIV‐positive women were more commonly infected with high‐risk (HR) HPV and multitype HPV than HIV‐negative women. The sensitivity was 78% and the specificity 87% to detect high‐grade SIL (HSIL) with HPV screening. Among HIV‐negative women, being divorced was positively associated with HR‐HPV infection, while hepatitis B, Trichomonas vaginalis infection and HR‐HPV infection were factors positively associated with SILs. Ever having had gonorrhoea was positively associated with HR‐HPV infection among HIV‐positive women. HR‐HPV infection and the number of live births were positively associated with SILs. Conclusions The currently used quadrivalent vaccine may be insufficient to give satisfactory HPV coverage in Rwanda. HPV Screening may be effective to identify women at risk of developing cervical cancer, particularly if provided to high‐risk patients.