The synergistic health syndemic of HIV and cancer of the cervix in women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: decrying the dearth of information

Abstract

The evolution of HIV treatment and care means that currently, people living with HIV (PLHIV) rarely die from the HIV infection course itself. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reports that mortality in PLHIV is now due to the four main non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – diabetes, cancer of the cervix (CaCx), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic respiratory illnesses. The dual burden of HIV infection and CaCx, an NCD, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) represents a complex public health challenge that demands concerted efforts and focused interventions. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has extended the life expectancy of PLHIV, but it has also raised their risk of developing NCDs as they age. Women living with HIV (WLHV) may be at increased risk of NCDs for various reasons, including the traditional NCD risk factors, direct consequences of HIV infection and exposure to specific antiretrovirals. As such, the prevalence of NCDs is rising in many nations that have an HIV epidemic. Therefore, highlighting the interplay between ART and the incidence of CaCx in WLHV can illuminate potential pathways for integrated disease management and prevention strategies, including patient education in the region.