Perceptions of Anal Cancer Risk Among HIV-Positive and High-Risk HIV-Negative Women

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jessica Wells, Emory University; Rasheeta Chandler, Emory University; Lisa Flowers, Emory University; Sudeshna Paul, Emory University; Anjali Sharma, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Nia Kalifa, Emory University; Marcia Holstad, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-04-01
• Publisher: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2022, ASCCP
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/LGT.0000000000000652
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF LOWER GENITAL TRACT DISEASE
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 181
• End Page: 185
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was funded by a supplement award to the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (U01-AI103408-SUPPLEMENT). Data in this manuscript were collected by the Women’s Interagency HIV Study, now the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS).; The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). MWCCS (Principal Investigators): Atlanta CRS (Ighovwerha Ofotokun, Anandi Sheth, and Gina Wingood), U01‐HL146241; Baltimore CRS (Todd Brown and Joseph Margolick), U01‐HL146201; Bronx CRS (Kathryn Anastos and Anjali Sharma), U01 HL146204; Brooklyn CRS (Deborah Gustafson and Tracey Wilson), U01‐HL146202; Data Analysis and Coordination Center (Gypsyamber D’Souza, Stephen Gange and Elizabeth Golub), U01‐HL146193; Chicago‐Cook County CRS (Mardge Cohen and Audrey French), U01‐HL146245; Chicago‐Northwestern CRS (Steven Wolinsky), U01‐ HL146240; Connie Wofsy Women’s HIV Study, Northern California CRS (Bradley Aouizerat and Phyllis Tien), U01‐HL146242; Los Angeles CRS (Roger Detels), U01‐HL146333; Metropolitan Washington CRS (Seble Kassaye and Daniel Merenstein), U01‐HL146205; Miami CRS (Maria Alcaide, Margaret Fischl, and Deborah Jones), U01‐HL146203; Pittsburgh CRS (Jeremy Martinson and Charles Rinaldo), U01‐HL146208; UAB‐MS CRS (Mirjam‐Colette Kempf and Deborah Konkle‐Parker), U01‐HL146192; UNC CRS (Adaora Adimora), U01‐HL146194. The MWCCS is funded primarily by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), with additional co‐funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institute On Aging (NIA), National Institute Of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke (NINDS), National Institute Of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute Of Nursing Research (NINR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). MWCCS data collection is also supported by UL1‐ TR000004 (UCSF CTSA), P30‐AI‐050409 (Atlanta CFAR), P30‐AI‐050410 (UNC CFAR), and P30‐AI‐027767 (UAB CFAR).
• Keywords: HIV; CERVICAL-CANCER; MEN; KNOWLEDGE; health promotion; HPV knowledge; IMPACT; anal cancer; LESIONS; Science & Technology; Obstetrics & Gynecology; HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION; PREVALENCE; cancer prevention; cancer risk; risk perceptions; anal cytology; PREVENTION; Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Abstract

Objectives: Women living with HIV (WLWH) have a greater risk of anal cancer than women without HIV; however, there are limited studies that examine awareness of anal cancer risk among WLWH and "high-risk"HIV-negative women. This study examines risk factors for anal cancer, perceptions of risk for anal cancer, and perceptions of anal cancer screening among a cohort of WLWH and high-risk HIV-negative women. Materials and Methods: From the Atlanta, GA, and Bronx, NY, sites of the Women's Interagency HIV Study, 155 WLWH and HIV-negative women were enrolled and the Champion Health Belief Model Scale questionnaire measuring risk perceptions to anal cancer was administered to each participant. Results: The WLWH perceived anal cancer to be less serious and perceived facing fewer barriers to anal cancer screening than HIV-negative women (both p =.01). Older women (≥50 years) felt that they had less barriers to anal cancer screening (p =.047). Moreover, women who had less than a high school education felt more susceptible to anal cancer (p =.001), as did women who reported a history of anal intercourse (p =.017). Conclusions: Despite being at an increased risk for anal cancer, perceptions of susceptibility to anal cancer and seriousness of anal cancer were low among WLWH. These findings highlight opportunities for provider and patient educational interventions to improve awareness of anal cancer risk among WLWH.