WLWH face up to six times increased risk of cervical cancer, as a result, cervical cancer is a leading cause of death in this population. Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), resulting in precancerous changes that if not adequately treated, progress to cancer. Thermal ablation is a commonly used treatment for cervical precancer in Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Current treatments for HPV or cervical precancer, including thermal ablation, are associated with high rates of treatment failure in WLWH. In a recent study from Zambia, only 44% of WLWH had cleared HPV at six months following thermal ablation treatment. Other studies have demonstrated up to 30% recurrence rate of high-grade cervical precancer at 12 to 24 months after treatment. Persistent infection with HPV following precancer treatment is a key risk factor for treatment disease recurrence.
