Cervical cancer: Can it be prevented?

Table 1 Risk factors for cervical cancer

Causal agent	Relative risk
Low socio-economic class	1.5
Low educational level	2-3
Early age at first coitus	2-4
Multiple sexual partners	2-5
Early age at first pregnancy	2-4
Multiparity	2-4
Long term use of oral contraceptives	1.5-2
History of sexually transmitted infections	4-10
History of genital warts	18
Cigarette smoking	2-4
Diet low in folates, carotene and vitamin C	2-3
Lack of routine cytological screening or prior abnormal smears	2-6
HIV	2.5
Immunosuppression	5.7

HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus.