Shimelis Fantu Gebresilasie

A neglected disease relationship—“association of human immunodeficiency viral infection and vulvar cancer”: A retrospective, hospital‐based, case–control study

Abstract Introduction Vulvar cancer is one of the rare malignancies affecting women, but its incidence and younger age diagnoses are increasing through time. Because of its rarity, and low interest in medical society, limited research has been undertaken, especially on the risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HIV infection and other factors on vulvar cancer. Methods A hospital‐based, case–control study was conducted. Data were collected by Kobotoolbox and analyzed using SPSS version 27. There were 110 study participants with a 1:4 cases to controls ratio, and descriptive and logistic regression analyses were utilized. Factors with P ‐value ≤0.25 on bivariate logistic regression and clinically relevant variables were included in multivariate analysis. The variables with P  ≤ 0.05 in multivariate analysis were taken as independent predictors of vulvar cancer. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) has been interpreted in the final result. Results The overall prevalence of HIV infection in the study participants was 11.8. HIV infection showed a statistically significant association with vulvar cancer ( P  = 0.011, aOR 37.41, 95% CI 2.275–615.064). Gravidity, menopausal status, history of vulvar wart, and lifetime number of sexual partners also showed a statistically significant association ( P  = 0.009, P  = 0.009, P  < 0.001, and P  = 0.047 respectively). Conclusion Vulvar cancer is common in women with HIV infection and is positively associated with the infection. Having low gravidity (≤4), a history of vulvar wart, being in a premenopausal state, and having a limited (<2) lifetime number of sexual partners are also positive associated with the disease.