The Correlation of Papanicolaou Smears and Clinical Features to Identify the Common Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer: a Retrospective and Descriptive Study From a Tertiary Care Hospital in Trinidad

Background: Cervical cancer, the fourth most frequent cancer in women, is associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV). This study focuses on identifying any risk factors and clinical findings for abnormal cervical cytology and histopathology in relation to the Trinidad and Tobago population. Some risk factors include early age of first coitus, high number of sexual partners, high parity, smoking, and use of certain medications such as oral contraception. This study is aimed to identify the significance of Papanicolaou (pap) smears and to identify the common risk factors that contribute to the development of premalignant and malignant cervical lesions. Method: A three-year retrospective, descriptive study of cervical cancer was conducted at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex to assess the risk factors and clinical findings using cervical cytology and histopathology data of patients with premalignant lesions. The subject population included 215 female patients aged 18 years and older who had the following documented abnormal cervical cytology: (ASCUS), ASC-H, LSIL, HSIL, Atypical Glandular cells, HPV, Adenocarcinoma, Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Histopathology records were analysed for thirty-three of these patients. Patients’ information were recorded on data collection sheets adapted from the North Central Regional Health Authority’s cytology laboratory standardised reporting format request form (Appendix I). Results and findings: The data were analysed via Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software edition 23 using frequency tables and descriptive analysis. The sample mean age of the population was 36.7 years, first age of coitus was 18.1 years, number of sexual partners was 3.8 and number of live births was 2. LSIL was the most popular abnormal finding, 32.6 %, followed by HSIL, 28.8% and ASCUS, 27.4%. Most histopathological reports resulted in CIN I and II.Conclusion: The major risk factors observed for cytology abnormalities and premalignant lesions were early age of coitus, high number of sexual partners, and no use of contraception.Patients mostly presented as asymptomatic despite obtaining abnormal cytology results. Hence, regular pap smear screening should continue to be highly encouraged.

Early observations from the HIV self-testing program among key populations and sexual partners of pregnant mothers in Kampala, Uganda: A cross sectional study

Background HIV self-testing (HIVST) was adopted for key populations (KPs) and sexual partners of pregnant and lactating women (mothers) in Uganda in October 2018. We report early observations during HIVST implementation in Kampala, Uganda. Methods HIVST was rolled out to reach those with unknown HIV status at 38 public health facilities, using peer-to-peer community-based distribution for female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) and secondary distribution for mothers, who gave HIVST kits to their partners. Self-testers were asked to report results within 2 days; those who did not report received a follow-up phone call from a trained health worker. Those with HIV-positive results were offered confirmatory testing at the facility using the standard HIV-testing algorithm. Data on kits distributed, testing yield, and linkage to care were analysed. Results We distributed 9,378 HIVST kits. Mothers received 5,212 (56%) for their sexual partners while KPs received 4,166 (44%) (MSM, 2192 [53%]; FSW1, 974, [47%]). Of all kits distributed, 252 (3%) individuals had HIV-positive results; 126 (6.5%) FSW, 52 (2.3%) MSM and 74 (1.4%) partners of mothers. Out of 252 individuals who had HIV-positive results, 170 (67%) were confirmed HIV-positive; 36 (2%) were partners of mothers, 99 (58%) were FSW, and 35 (21%) were MSM. Linkage to treatment (126) was 74%. Conclusions HIVST efficiently reached, tested, identified and modestly linked to care HIV positive FSW, MSM, and partners of mothers. However, further barriers to confirmatory testing and linkage to care for HIV-positive self-testers remain unexplored.

Incidence and clearance of oral and cervicogenital HPV infection: longitudinal analysis of the MHOC cohort study

ObjectivesThe Michigan HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer study aimed to evaluate patterns of oral and cervicogenital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection prevalence, incidence, and clearance as well as their relationship to sexual behaviours.DesignCohortSettingGeneral public in and around Ann Arbor, Michigan.Participants394 college-age and older-adult participants of both sexes provided oral samples, and 325 completed at least 2 visits. 130 who provided a cervicogenital samples, and 127 completed at least 2 visits.OutcomesIncidence and clearance rates as well as HRs for oral and cervicogenital HPV.ResultsOral HPV infections were transient, with only 16% of genotypes persisting to the next visit. The mean time to clearance of a genotype was 46 days (95% CI 37 to 58). In contrast, cervicogenital infections were more persistent, with 56% of genotypes persisting to the next visit. The mean time to clearance of a genotype was 87 days (95% CI 74 to 102). HPV vaccination was associated with reduced incidence of cervicogenital HPV infection (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.47 to 0.83) but not oral HPV infection. Incidence of oral HPV infection was associated with 2+ recent deep kissing partners (HR 2.00; 95% CI 1.13 to 3.56). Incidence of both oral (HR: 1.70; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.68) and cervicogenital (HR 2.46; 95% CI 1.69 to 3.59) was associated with 2+ recent sexual partners.ConclusionsDetection of oral HPV was highly transient, but incidence was associated with recent deep kissing and sexual partners. Detection of cervicogenital HPV was more persistent, and incidence was positively associated with recent sexual partners and negatively associated with HPV vaccination.

The Role of Objectification in College Women’s Substance Misuse and Sexual Risk

Sexism and objectification present major challenges for mental and physical health among women. Scholars have called for research to identify mechanisms that underlie these associations as well as to delineate factors to target in prevention and intervention efforts. This study aimed to build on central tenets of objectification theory through its examination of sexist experiences in relation to body surveillance, body shame, depressive symptoms, and the health risk behaviors of substance use (i.e., alcohol and drug misuse) and sexual risk (i.e., condom use and number of sexual partners) among a large sample of college student women. We also examined whether body surveillance, body shame, and depressive symptoms would mediate theorized pathways extended to substance use and sexual risk. A sample of 505 full-time college student women ages 18–26 completed an online survey that assessed their health and behaviors. We used structural equation modeling to test mediation hypotheses. Results largely supported hypotheses, extended objectification theory to sexual risk, and expanded upon past research on objectification in relation to substance use. Notably, results of this study provided a more nuanced knowledge of how objectification may lead to increases in sexual risk when assessed by number of sexual partners (but not condom use). Further research is warranted to understand potential explanatory pathways between sexism, objectification, and sexual risk. Findings can inform prevention and intervention efforts to target body surveillance, body shame, and depressive symptoms to attempt to reduce the burden of sexist experiences on women’s health.

Associated factors to the sexual behavior in Peruvian women among 15 and 25 years old

Background: The sexual behavior of women is associated with various protective or risk factors, which are important to assess. To determine the socioeconomic factors associated with the sexual behavior of Peruvian women within 15 and 25 years old. Method: A secondary analysis of the 2016 Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES) was conducted. Our sample was 7962 women from 15 to 25 years old, from all over the Peruvian territory. Associative analyzes were carried out on the age of sexual initiation, the number of sexual partners and the use of contraceptives, based on sociodemographic variables. Poisson regression with robust variance was also used. Results: It was found the factors, that are associated with the age of sexual initiation and the number of sexual partners, are the area of origin, marital status, educational level, employment status and socioeconomic level. While women who work and whose partners do not drink alcohol are the most likely to use contraceptives. Conclusions: It can be concluded that certain socioeconomic and work conditions act as protective factors of female sexual behavior, while having a partner who drinks alcohol is a risk factor.

Does Sexual and Emotional Behavior Differ Between Sexual Partners That Do Not Disclose HIV Status?

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze whether the disclosure of HIV serological status among sexual partners is associated with differences in sexual affective behavior. Methods: Cross-sectional study was carried out with 173 participants in a specialized assistance service on the treatment of people with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Data were collected through interviews. Results: Our results show that from the participants who did not disclose their HIV status and who were sexually active, most had multiple sexual partners (44.6%), used combined methods of prevention (75.4%), had casual partners (63.0%), used condoms (66.2%), and had sexual intercourse while under the influence of alcohol (56.9%). The variables i.e., number of partners (p = 0.010) and type of relationship (p <0.001) showed statistical differences. Conclusion: Sexual affective behavior variables influenced the decision about disclosing HIV seropositivity to sexual partners that establish different forms of sexual partnerships.

Diverse mating phenotypes impact the spread of wtf meiotic drivers in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Meiotic drivers are genetic elements that break Mendel's law of segregation to be transmitted into more than half of the offspring produced by a heterozygote. The success of a driver relies on outcrossing (mating between individuals from distinct lineages) because drivers gain their advantage in heterozygotes. It is, therefore, curious that Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a species reported to rarely outcross, harbors many meiotic drivers. To address this paradox, we measured mating phenotypes in S. pombe natural isolates. We found that the propensity for cells from distinct clonal lineages to mate varies between natural isolates and can be affected both by cell density and by the available sexual partners. Additionally, we found that the observed levels of preferential mating between cells from the same clonal lineage can slow, but not prevent, the spread of a wtf meiotic driver in the absence of additional fitness costs linked to the driver. These analyses reveal parameters critical to understanding the evolution of S. pombe and help explain the success of meiotic drivers in this species.

Geosocial networking app use associated with sexual risk behavior, but also PrEP use, among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: Cross-sectional web-based survey (Preprint)

BACKGROUND In the United States, geosocial networking (GSN) applications (i.e., mobile dating apps) have become central to dating and sexual interactions in recent years. Among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM), these apps play an important role in reducing barriers and facilitating partner-seeking. However, despite these benefits, there are concerns that these apps may facilitate risky sexual behavior and transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among GBM. OBJECTIVE The present study examined the association between GSN app use and sexual risk among a U.S. sample of GBM. METHODS Using a cross-sectional design, respondents (N = 223) completed an online survey assessing their use of GSN apps, sexual risk and protective behaviors, HIV serostatus, and previous STI diagnoses. RESULTS Respondents were ages 21-78 (M = 31.90, SD = 10.06), 69.5% Non-Hispanic White, and from 40 States and the District of Columbia. Nearly half (47%; n = 104) of the sample reported using GSN apps. GSN users were more likely to report past year condomless anal intercourse (p < .001), 3+ sexual partners in the previous year (p < .001), and a previous STI diagnosis (p = .001) relative to non-users, and also reported more frequent use of recreational drugs before sex (p = .001), alcohol use before sex (p < .001), and cannabis use before sex (p = .01). Interestingly, GSN users were also more likely to report having ever received an HIV test (p < .001) and using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP; p = .03). Rates of HIV seropositivity did not significantly differ between GSN users and non-users (p = .53). Among the subset of GSN users, 38 participants reported using only GBM-specific GSN apps (e.g., Grindr), while 27 participants reported using only sexuality nonspecific GSN apps (e.g., Tinder). Exclusive users of sexual minority-specific apps reported more frequent recreational drug use before sex (p = .01) and were also more likely to report past year condomless anal intercourse (p < .001), 3+ sexual partners in the previous year (p = .004), a previous STI diagnosis (p = .002), and HIV testing (p = .003). Alcohol use before sex, cannabis use before sex, PrEP use, and HIV rates were similar between both groups (ps > .11). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that GSN apps may be a useful pathway for interventions aimed at reducing STI-risk among GBM. Future, prospective studies should examine how risk levels change after initiation of GSN app use.