comparison of abnormal cervical cytology from hiv positive women, female sex workers and general population

background: sex workers and hiv seropositive women are at high risk of abnormal cervical cytology. the objective of this study was to compare the cervical cytology among three groups of women: active sex workers, hiv-infected women, and general population in iran. methods: this was a cross-sectional study performed in hazrat zeinab, lavan clinics and drop in center (dic) in shiraz, iran. this study was performed from october 2009 to october 2011. a total of 266 patients were assigned into three groups: sex-workers (85), hiv positive patients (100), and general population (81). pap smear was performed for all participants from the exocervix and endocervix, using a plastic ayres’s spatula and cytobrush. the samples were sent to a pathology center, using a liquid-based media. results: the risk of cervical infection in sex workers and hiv positive women was greater than the general population (or=5.47, 95% confidence interval [ci]:2.24, 13.40), (or=3.71, 95% ci:1.52, 9.09), respectively. the frequency of abnormal cervical cytology in the hiv positive and sex worker groups was higher than the general population (or=6. 76, 95% ci:2.25, 20.32), (or=3. 80, 95% ci:1.19, 12.07), respectively. low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (lsil) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (hsil) were associated with cd4 cell count<200í106/l, p=0.021 and p<0.001, respectively. conclusion: vaginal infections were seen more often in the sex worker group, and abnormal cervical cytology was greater in the hiv positive group.