Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia (OSSN) Risk Factors in Lusaka, Zambia: The Role of HIV and Socioeconomic Status

Objective To identify and evaluate potential risk factors for OSSN at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia. Methods Data from 475 patients were analyzed retrospectively, and it included 390 with OSSN and 85 with benign biopsies. Variables with significance values Results Several key predictors of OSSN were identified after controlling for confounders in the household cooks sub-population, these were, a lower household income (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.46–0.90, p = .009), a Lab confirmed HIV-positive status (aOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.72–7.21, p = .001) and exposure to biomass smoke (aOR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.05–5.84, p = .039). Conclusion Lower household income and HIV-positive status were identified as significant risk factors, underscoring the need for targeted public health interventions. Logistic regression models outperformed regularized methods in predicting OSSN risk. We recommend improved healthcare access, HIV screening, and environmental protection measures could significantly reduce OSSN incidence in at-risk populations.