Background: Uganda has approximately 1.2 million people aged 15–64 years living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of premalignant cervical lesions among HIV-positive women than among HIV-negative women. Additionally, HIV-infected womenare more likely to have their human papilloma virus (HPV) infection progress to cancer than non-HIV-infected women. We determined the prevalence of premalignant cervical lesions and their association with HIV infection among women attending a cervical cancer screening clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda. Methods: We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study of 210 women aged 22–65 years living with HIV and 210 women not living with HIV who were systematically enrolled from March 2022 to May 2022. Participants were subjected to a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire to obtain their demographic and clinical data. Additionally, Papanicolaou smears were taken for microscopy to observe premalignant cervical lesions. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine theassociation between HIV status and premalignant cervical lesions. Results: The overall prevalence of premalignant cervical lesions in the study population was 17% (n=72; 95% C.I: 14.1-21.4), with 23% (n=47; 95% C.I: 17.8-29.5) in women living with HIV and 12% (n=25; 95% C.I: 8.2-17.1) in women not living with HIV (p<0.003). The most common premalignant cervical lesions identified were low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) in both women living with HIV (74.5%; n=35) and women not living with HIV (80%; n=20). HIV infection was significantly associated with premalignant lesions (aOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.27–4.42,p=0.007). Conclusion: Premalignant cervical lesions, particularly LSILs, were more common in HIV-positive women than in HIV-negative women, highlighting the need to strengthen the integration of cervical cancer prevention strategies into HIV care programs.

Background Early recognition of haemodynamic instability after birth and prompt interventions are necessary to reduce adverse maternal outcomes due to postpartum haemorrhage. Obstetric shock Index (OSI) has been recommended as a simple, accurate, reliable, and low-cost early diagnostic measure that identifies hemodynamically unstable women. Objectives We determined the prevalence of abnormal obstetric shock index and associated factors among women in the immediate postpartum period following vaginal delivery at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study at the labour suite and postnatal ward of MRRH from January 2022 to April 2022. We systematically sampled women who had delivered vaginally, and measured their blood pressures and pulse rates at 1 hour postpartum. We excluded mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Sociodemographic, medical and obstetric data were obtained through interviewer-administered questionnaires. The prevalence of abnormal OSI was the proportion of participants with an OSI ≥ 0.9 (calculated as the pulse rate divided by the systolic BP). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between abnormal OSI and independent variables. Results We enrolled 427 women with a mean age of 25.66 ± 5.30 years. Of these, 83 (19.44%), 95% CI (15.79–23.52) had an abnormal obstetric shock index. Being referred [aOR 2.34, 95% CI (1.41–3.89), p = 0.001], having had an episiotomy/perineal laceration [aOR 1.90, 95% CI (1.15–3.13), p = 0.012] and having a visually estimated blood loss > 200 mls [aOR 1.78, 95% CI (1.06–3.01), p = 0.028] were significantly associated with abnormal OSI. Conclusion Approximately one in every five women who delivered vaginally at MRRH during the study period had an abnormal OSI. We recommend that clinicians have a high index of suspicion for haemodynamic instability among women in the immediate postpartum period. Mothers who are referred in from other facilities, those that get episiotomies/perineal lacerations and those with estimated blood loss > 200mls should be prioritized for close monitoring.