27.3% of all cancer deaths—still number one and an increase
of 2.3% in less than 10 years in a population whose growth
rate has been compromised by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.6
Cervical cancer is preventable if precancer is diagnosed
early through screening and cured through treatment; it takes
a long time for a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection to
progress to precancer but less time in HIV-positive women.1
Although the etiology of cervical cancer is not really understood,
it is known that genital HPV is directly associated with
the disease.7–10 Further, it is now known that HPV 16 and
HPV 18 may act synergistically to induce cervical neoplasia.
11,12 Although HIV and HPV can be transmitted through
other methods, they are both sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs).11–13 Thus, all sexually active women have at least some
level of risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially
young women who have a high risk of acquiring HPV from
polygamous relationships.1 An HPV vaccine provides immunity
against the HPV strains that cause about 70% of the
world’s cervical cancers.5 However, to date, this vaccine is not