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Accuracy of visual inspection with acetic acid to detect cervical cancer precursors among HIV‐infected women in Kenya
Author(s) -
Huchko Megan J.,
Sneden Jennifer,
Sawaya George,
SmithMcCune Karen,
Maloba May,
Abdulrahim Naila,
Bukusi Elizabeth A.,
Cohen Craig R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.28996
Subject(s) - colposcopy , medicine , cervical cancer , cervical intraepithelial neoplasia , obstetrics , cross sectional study , biopsy , gynecology , young adult , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , cancer , family medicine , pathology
Visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) is becoming a more widely recommended and implemented screening tool for cervical cancer prevention programs in low‐resource settings. Many of these settings have a high prevalence of HIV‐infected women. We carried out a cross‐sectional validation study to define the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of VIA among HIV‐infected women. Women enrolled in HIV care at the Family AIDS Care and Education Services clinic in Kisumu, Kenya, were recruited for participation. All participants underwent VIA followed by colposcopy performed by a second blinded clinician. At colposcopy, lesions suspicious for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or greater (CIN2+) were biopsied. Disease status was determined by final histopathologic diagnosis in women who underwent biopsies. A satisfactory colposcopy with no lesions was considered a negative result. From October 2010 to June 2012, 1,432 women underwent VIA and colposcopy. A total of 514 (35.7%) women had a positive VIA, and 179 (12.2%) had CIN2+ confirmed by colposcopically directed biopsy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of VIA for CIN2+ were 86.6, 71.6, 30.3 and 97.4%, respectively. Specificity, but not sensitivity, increased with older age. Among older women, sensitivity was affected by CD4+ count and use of antiretroviral therapy. Although they are impacted by age and immune status, test characteristics for VIA among HIV‐infected women are similar to what has been reported for general populations. Recommendations to use VIA as a screening tool should not vary by HIV status.