High Risk HPV among HIV positive women with Normal and Abnormal cervical cytology in Bahir Dar, North west Ethiopia

Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor that develops from the uterine cervix's cells. It is mainly caused by infection with human papillomavirues. Women with HIV are more likely to experience high-risk HPV type infections. The aim of this study was to determine the HPV prevalence and type-specific distribution among HIV-positive women with cervical cytologic abnormalities in Bahir Dar, northwestern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional facility-based study was conducted among HIV-positive women in Bahir Dar, northwestern Ethiopia, between January and March 2025. A total of 344 women living with HIV were enrolled in the study. A total of 171 (49.7%) of the 344 women had HR-HPV infection, with type HPV16 37(21.6%), HPV18 15(8.8%), type 16 and others 24(14%), type 18 and others 7(4.1%), type 16 and type 18 6(3.5%), and other types 82 (47.9%). 263 (76.45%), There were 81(23.55%) women with cytologic abnormality and 263 (76.45%) of study participants were with normal cytology. Of those with abnormal cytology results, 26 (32.1%) were ASC-US, 22 (27.2%) were LSIL, 14 (17.3%) were ASC-H, 9 (11.1%) were LSIL-H, and 10 (12.3%) were HSIL. HIV-positive women aged 31 and older face markedly increased odds of HR HPV infection compared to younger women, with the highest risk observed in the 41–50 age group. Higher parity, early sexual debut, and multiple sexual partners increase HR HPV risk in HIV-positive women. Given the high HR-HPV prevalence and strong association with abnormal cytology, targeted preventive measures (screening, vaccination, and education) are crucial for HIV-positive women, particularly in low-resource settings.