High prevalence of sexual infection by human papillomavirus and Chlamydia trachomatis in sexually-active women from a large city in the Amazon region of Brazil

Abstract

Background The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis are the most prevalent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) worldwide, and are associated cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease, respectively. However, 80% of women testing positive are asymptomatic. In the Amazon region, young women, in particular, are widely exposed to the infections and their consequences. Objectives Determine the prevalence of sexual infection by HPV and C. trachomatis in young, sexually-active women treated at a university health program in a large city of the Brazilian Amazon region. Methods We amplified the L1 gene of HPV. We amplified ompA gene of C. trachomatis by nested PCR, and the study participants filled in a questionnaire on their social, epidemiological, and reproductive health characteristics. The data were analyzed using the Odds Ratio, to evaluate the degree of association of these variables with the observed infections. Results The prevalence of infection by HPV was 15.5% (47/303). This infection was recorded in 32.2% of the women of less than 25 years of age (OR:3.02 [CI95%] = 1.32–6.92; p = 0.014), 17.9% of the single women (OR: 2.41 [CI95%] = 1.22–4.75; p = 0.014), 23.8% of the women that reported having first sexual intercourse at less than 15 years of age (OR: 2.22 [CI95%] = 1.16–4.23; p = 0.021), 20% of those that reported having had more than one sexual partner during their lifetime (OR: 3.83 [CI95%] = 1.56–9.37; p = 0.003), and in 28.3% that use oral contraceptives (CI95% = 1.33–5.43; p = 0.008). The prevalence of sexual infection by C. trachomatis was 4.6% (14/303), and this bacterium was present in 16.1% of the young women of less than 25 years of age (OR: 2.86 [CI95%] = 1.33–5.43; p = 0.008). Conclusions We found a high prevalence of HPV in young, unmarried women who started their sex lives early, who had several sexual partners in their lives and who used oral contraceptives. The prevalence of C. trachomatis was high only in young women. Our data are in accordance with other studies in Brazil and in the world and may serve to base the formulation of diagnostic and screening measures for these infections in women in the Amazon.

Prevalence and risk factors for high-risk human papillomavirus infection among women from three southern geopolitical zones of Nigeria

“…Pregnant women were the target subgroup with the most infection, though their questionnaire response did not collaborate with this finding. Earlier studies had reported higher HPV prevalence among sexually active and pregnant women ( 8 – 10 , 23 ). One common factor among the women subgroups with high infection is being sexually active.…”

Screening in female patients for HPV and STI for early diagnosis of cervical cancer

“…Alternatively, STI bacteria were detected in 83.0% of symptomatic subjects, a significantly higher percentage than that of asymptomatic subjects (60.1%). 18 In another Brazilian study, the total prevalence of HPV was 15.5%, although the prevalence increased significantly to 32.2% of the women aged less than or equal to 25 years of age. 23.8% of the women that reported having first sexual intercourse at less than 15 years of age, 20% of those that reported having more than one sexual partner over their lifetime but used contraceptives.…”

“…with not all HPV genotypes being carcinogenic. 8 The IARC-WHO has classified the genotypes concerning carcinogenicity such that genotypes 6,11 are low-risk HPV, Group 1 hrHPV have genotypes 16,18,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58, and 59 (high-risk carcinogenic), Group 2A with HPV 68 (probably carcinogenic) and group 2B with HPV 26, 30, 34, 53, 66, 67, 69, 70, 73, 82, 85, and 97 (possibly carcinogenic). 1 Considering the high prevalence of HPV worldwide and in India, and the expensive screening strategies, we decided to carry out HPV/STI panel screening in some patients at the Cama and Albless Hospital in Mumbai, Maharashtra for identifying the carcinogenic traits in the patients as a preventive measure against developing cervical cancer.…”

Prevalence, Diversity, and Risk Factors for Cervical HPV Infection in Women Screened for Cervical Cancer in Belém, Pará, Northern Brazil

“…In recent studies, the prevalence of HPV remains similar to, or even higher, than the value recorded here (2007)(2008), and the epidemiological profile of women infected with this virus is still very worrying. In 2017, 15.5% of a sample of women in the city of Belém had cervical HPV, and most of them were young, single, with an early onset of sexual life, had several sexual partners in their lifetime, and used oral contraceptives [49]. In this city, a high rate of HPV (63.3%) was also recorded among women with HIV, with a predominance of high-risk HPV genotypes, such as HPV16 (37.5%), and the detection of premalignant alterations in the samples (LSIL (39.4%), HSIL (45.4%), and ASCUS (12.1%)) [27].…”