HPV Infection and its Relation to Cervical Cancer Screening History and Other Risk Factors

Objectives: We conducted a study to investigate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in an opportunistic. sample of women in odissa, India. We inquired about risk factors associated with HPV infections and linked the HPV results with the cervical cancer screening history of the patients. Methods: The study population included 200 symptomatic and asymptomatic women patients attending Papanicolaou (Pap) test at AHRCC. After signing a consent form, patients were given a self-administered questionnaire ( after approving by local ethics committee) on risk factors and received a conventional Pap test. Residual cells from the Pap tests were collected and sent for HPV testing. Results: The mean age of the population was 48 years. A total of 116patients (58.0 %) had an HPV infection, 84 (42.0 %) of whom had a normal Pap test or HPV -ve, 44 (37.93 %) were affected by hpv typing 16 and 18, which are mostly prevalent and 54 (46.55 %) had affected by multiple infection. Of those who were HPV positive, the most consistent risk factors were young age, higher number of pregnancy, low socio-economic status, diet, tobacco and living status. We cannot find any relation between cervical cancer risk factors with OCP and family history of patients of higher age. Conclusion: As Odissa is a socio-economically backward state of india, these data provide baseline information on HPV prevalence specially 16 and 18 in an unvaccinated population and can be useful in evaluating the effectiveness of the HPV immunization programs. An added benefit is in this study is a risk behavior survey to assess early and late outcomes of HPV infection, which is very helpful to save the life of women.