Skin cancer risk factor reduction in Africa: Assessment of use of antiretroviral therapy services by human immunodeficiency virus positive albinos

AimThe aim of this study was to assess how effectively HIV positive albinos make use of free and available Antiretroviral therapy services.BackgroundAn earlier study showed an unusually high proportion of albino patients to be living with HIV.Materials and methodThis prospective study was carried out in the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit and the HIV clinic of the National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria from July 2010 to June 2012. Survey of clinic attendance for head and neck skin cancer patients living with HIV was carried out. The same was done for head and neck skin cancer patients attending HIV clinic. Proportions of normal-pigmented patients and albinos were noted in both clinics. Data was summarized using numbers and percentage of values obtained in both groups.ResultsTwo normal-pigmented and 35 albino patients were seen. Both of the former attended HIV clinic while only 1 albino did. Thirty-four albinos stayed away from the HIV clinic due to stigma and easy identification in a Negroid community. 10,499 patients in HIV clinic were normal-pigmented and 2 suffered head and neck skin cancer. The only albino who attended the HIV clinic had both basal and squamous cell carcinoma.ConclusionAlbinos make very poor use of free and available antiretroviral therapy services. They fear being easily identified and further stigmatized by members of the community.