HIV Positive Women Often Miss Pap Smear Tests

Researchers found that almost one in four HIV positive women, who are at increased risk of cervical cancer, had missed Pap test to look for cervical cancer.

The cervical cancer risk has not decreased since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy for HPV infection.

Records show that almost 23% of women who are affected with HPV had not undergone a pap test previous year before the study was done. “Because of competing priorities,” the investigators suspect that preventive care for sicker women “may be given lower priority than in other HIV-infected women.”

However, it is important to remember, that these women are at higher risk of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), a cause of cervical cancer. They are also at higher risk for abnormal Pap test findings. Thus, according to investigators cervical cancer screening should be a high priority.

Source: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

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