Histopathological Features in Development of Cancer of the cervix in relation to Sexually Transmitted Infections among Sexually active women attending Machakos Cancer Care and Research Centre
Abstract
Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosis, treatment and management programmes
have existed for many decades worldwide. Cancer of cervix diagnosis, treatment and management is
however a newer phenomenon compared to STIs. Globally, it is estimated that 568,847 women in their
reproductive age are diagnosed with cancer of the cervix and an estimated 311,365 deaths occur annually.
Concurrently 499 million cases of STIs occur annually. This high burden of the infections if intervention
measures are not put in place, the cases may increase into many folds in the coming future.
Objective: This study sought to investigate the influence of STIs in the histopathological outcomes among
sexually active women attending Machakos Cancer Care and Research Centre.
Methods: The study design applied cross-sectional design to achieve this objective. It involved women who
were sexually active and consented to the study voluntarily. The study involved STIs testing and
histopathology analysis.
Result: The total number of participants who consented to the study after being informed about the
consequences and the importance of the research were one hundred and seventy-six. The mean age of the
participants was 40.6 years, a median of 43 and a range of 22-58 years. In overall 55 % of the participants
had positive STIs outcomes while 44 % of the same population had an abnormal cervical histopathology
outcome. The majority of the abnormal histopathology outcomes were among women aged 40 years and
above. STIs were distributed in all ages. HPV and HIV were pathogen of interest because their influence
was statistically significant.
Conclusion: This current study has revealed that STIs infections are very important agents of interest in
establishment and progression of cancer of the cervix within the cervical walls of the sexually active
women. HPV and HIV were highest influencers of histopathological outcomes in this study.
URI
https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v10i7.12http://repository.mut.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/6723
