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ObjectiveVaccine-preventable human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is common, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV risk is also high. However, unlike other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HPV's role in HIV acquisition is unclear. We evaluated this relationship using data from MTN-003, a clinical trial of HIV chemoprophylaxis among cisgender women in sub-Saharan Africa.DesignA case-control study.MethodsWe matched 138 women who acquired HIV (cases) to 412 HIV-negative controls. Cervicovaginal swabs collected within 6 months before HIV seroconversion were tested for HPV DNA. We estimated the associations between carcinogenic (high-risk) and low-risk HPV types and types targeted by HPV vaccines and HIV acquisition, using conditional logistic regression models adjusted for time-varying sexual behaviors and other STIs.ResultsMean age was 23 (±4) years. Any, high-risk and low-risk HPV was detected in 84, 74 and 66% of cases, and 65, 55 and 48% of controls. Infection with at least two HPV types was common in cases (67%) and controls (49%), as was infection with nonavalent vaccine-targeted types (60 and 42%). HIV acquisition increased with any [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.3-4.7], high-risk (aOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.5-4.6) and low-risk (aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.9) HPV. Each additional type detected increased HIV risk by 20% (aOR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4). HIV acquisition was associated with HPV types targeted by the nonavalent (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.6) and quadrivalent vaccines (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.2).ConclusionHPV infection is associated with HIV acquisition in sub-Saharan African women. In addition to preventing HPV-associated cancers, increasing HPV vaccination coverage could potentially reduce HIV incidence.

ObjectiveWe aimed to determine if the dapivirine vaginal ring and the ring device alone (flexible silicone matrix polymer) was associated with the development of cervical cytology abnormalities.DesignSecondary analysis comparing cervical cytology results between two randomized controlled microbicide trials (MTN-020/ASPIRE and MTN-003/VOICE).MethodsData from ASPIRE, a phase III, placebo-controlled trial of the dapivirine vaginal ring, were used in this analysis. Cervical cytology smears were evaluated at baseline and at the final visit with product use. We compared cytology results between women randomized to dapivirine versus placebo vaginal ring. We further assessed for the effect of the vaginal ring device on cervical cytology by comparing results with data from the oral placebo arm of VOICE, a prior HIV-1 prevention trial conducted in a similar population.ResultsCervical cytology results for 2394 women from ASPIRE (1197 per study arm) were used in this analysis; median time between baseline and final visit with product use was 22.1 months. Cytology smear findings were comparable between dapivirine and placebo vaginal ring arms: at final visit, normal: 90.6 versus 91.5%, ASC-US//LSIL: 7.8 versus 7.4%, ASC-H/HSIL/AGC/AGC-favor neoplastic: 1.7 versus 1.1%, P = 0.44. Cytology data from VOICE had findings (normal: 87.8%, ASC-US/LSIL: 9.8%, ASC-H/HSIL/AGC/AGC-favor neoplastic: 2.4%) comparable with that of both dapivirine (P = 0.93) and placebo vaginal ring arms (P = 0.24).ConclusionThese findings indicate that neither use of the dapivirine vaginal ring nor the vaginal ring device alone, over a period of 2 years, is associated with development of cervical cytology abnormalities that could lead to precancerous or cancerous lesions.

ObjectivesAssessment of safety is an integral part of real-time monitoring in clinical trials. In HIV prevention research, safety of investigational products and trial participation has been expanded to include monitoring for 'social harms', generally defined as negative consequences of trial participation that may manifest in social, psychological, or physical ways. Further research on social harms within HIV prevention research is needed to understand the potential safety risks for women and advance the implementation of prevention methods in real-world contexts.MethodsSecondary analysis of quantitative data from three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of microbicide candidates in sub-Saharan Africa was conducted. Additionally, we assessed data from two prospective cohort studies that included participants who became HIV-positive or pregnant during parent trials.ResultsSocial harms reporting was low across the largest and most recent microbicide studies. Social harm incidence per 100 person-years ranged from 1.10 (95% CI 0.78-1.52) to 3.25 (95% CI 2.83-3.74) in the phased trials. Reporting differed by dosing mechanism (e.g. vaginal gel, oral tablet, ring) and study, most likely as a function of measurement differences. Social harms were most frequently associated with male partners, rather than, for example, experiences of stigma in the community.ConclusionMeasurement and screening for social harms is an important component of conducting ethical research of novel HIV prevention methods. To date, social harm incidence reported in microbicide trials has been relatively low (