Impact of cervicitis on performance of cervical cancer screening using HRHPV testing and visual evaluation in women living with HIV in Botswana.

Painter, Helena; Erlinger, Adrienne; Simon, Boikhutso; Morroni, Chelsea; Ramogola-Masire, Doreen; Luckett, Rebecca

HIV co-infection and poor access to primary and secondary prevention mean cervical cancer mortality is highest in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a call to action for the elimination of cervical cancer. Achievement of this relies on scale-up of effective screening for pre-invasive disease. WHO recommends screening algorithms using primary high-risk human papilloma virus (hrHPV) testing followed by visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) or colposcopy. There is concern that the accuracy of visual assessment may be affected by cervicitis.