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Cervical Cancer Screening in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment Centre in Zaria North-Western Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION
Low awareness and lack of adequate services for cervical cancer screening and treatment of premalignant lesions of the cervix have been identified as some of the reasons for the high burden of cervical cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Women living with HIV infection are at a higher risk of developing cervical cancer than HIV negative women.


OBJECTIVE
The study sought to assess the awareness of cervical cancer and screening services among women living with HIV in a HIV treatment centre. Factors that affect uptake of screening were also explored.


METHODS
It was a qualitative study conducted from 26th August to 9th September 2019, in a HIV treatment centre in Zaria. A total of 61 HIV positive women participated in ten focus group discussions. Two key informant interviews were conducted with health care providers in the center.


RESULTS
Majority of the participants have heard about cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening during routine health talk in the clinic, however, most of them were not aware of the increased risk of cervical cancer among women living with HIV. Uptake of screening was low. Stigma, cost and lack of screening facility within the treatment center were the main barriers to screening uptake.


CONCLUSION
From our study, uptake of cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV was low. There is need to integrate cervical cancer screening services within the compact of care offered to all women living with HIV within HIV treatment centres.