Gynaecological morbidity among HIV positive pregnant women in Cameroon

Enow R Mbu¹ , Eugene J Kongnyuy² , FX Mbopi-Keou³ , Rebecca N Tonye⁴ , Philip N Nana¹ and Robert JI Leke¹

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Cameroon

²Child and Reproductive Health Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK

³Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

⁴Yaounde Central Hospital Maternity, Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon

author email corresponding author email

Reproductive Health 2008, 5:3doi:10.1186/1742-4755-5-3


Published:	3 July 2008

Abstract

Objective

To compare the prevalence of gynaecological conditions among HIV infected and non-infected pregnant women.

Methods

Two thousand and eight (2008) pregnant women were screened for HIV, lower genital tract infections and lower genital tract neoplasia at booking antenatal visit.

Results

About 10% (198/2008) were HIV positive. All lower genital tract infections except candidiasis were more prevalent among HIV positive compared to HIV negative women: vaginal candidiasis (36.9% vs 35.4%; p = 0.678), Trichomoniasis (21.2% vs 10.6%; p < 0.001), gonorrhoea (10.1% vs 2.5%; p < 0.001), bacterial vaginosis (21.2% vs 15.2%; p = 0.026), syphilis (35.9% vs 10.6%; p < 0.001), and Chlamydia trachomatis (38.4% vs 7.1%; p < 0.001). Similarly, HIV positive women more likely to have preinvasive cervical lesions: low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) (18.2% vs 4.4%; p < 0.001) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (12.1% vs 1.5%; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

We conclude that (i) sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in both HIV positive and HIV negative pregnant women in Cameroon, and (ii) STIs and preinvasive cervical lesions are more prevalent in HIV-infected pregnant women compared to their non-infected compatriots. We recommend routine screening and treatment of STIs during antenatal care in Cameroon and other countries with similar social profiles.