Racial and ethnic differences in human papillomavirus positivity and risk factors among low-income women in Federally Qualified Health Centers in the United States

Abstract

Reasons for racial/ethnic disparities in HPV infection are unclear. This study assessed racial/ethnic differences in and risk factors for HPV positivity among low-income women. Data were collected from 984 low-income women visiting Federally Qualified Health Centers across Illinois (2009–2011). Pearson chi square and Logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations with HPV positivity. Our results showed Mexican-born Hispanics had the lowest HPV positivity (16%), followed by non-Hispanic whites (29%), US-born Hispanics (35%), and non-Hispanic blacks (39%). Mexican-born Hispanics reported fewer risk behaviors for HPV positivity, including first sexual intercourse before age 16 years (9% versus 27%), multiple sexual partners in lifetime (48% versus 90%), and current cigarette smoking status (10% versus 35%) when compared to non-Hispanic whites (p < 0.001). In multivariate-adjusted logistic regression, being non-Hispanic black, first sexual intercourse before age 16 years, increasing numbers of recent or lifetime sexual partners and current cigarette smoking status were associated with a higher likelihood of HPV positivity. Our findings highlight racial/ethnic differences in HPV positivity and risk factors in a population of women with similar socioeconomic characteristics. When measuring HPV risk factors within the Hispanic population, foreign-born status and other mediating factors, such as social norms and cultural characteristics, may be relevant to assess the intragroup heterogeneity.

Acceptability and Feasibility of Human Papilloma Virus Self-Sampling for Cervical Cancer Screening

“…45 The higher prevalence of HPV among Haitians is consistent with our prior work, but the reasons for this difference remain unclear. 44,46 Although screening for cervical cancer using HPV testing is gaining increased acceptance, the United States Preventive Services Task Force has still not endorsed it as a primary screening test for cervical cancer. Given a lack of specific guidelines and limited prior provider awareness and knowledge about HPV self-sampling as an alternative approach to cervical cancer screening, we had expected provider attitudes to be more heterogeneous.…”

Distribution of Vaccine-Type Human Papillomavirus Does Not Differ by Race or Ethnicity Among Unvaccinated Young Women

“…5 Black and Hispanic women have higher rates of HPV infection, cervical cancer incidence, and cervical cancer mortality compared with other racial and ethnic groups. 1,[6][7][8][9][10] The risk of death from cervical cancer for black women is twice that of white women in the U.S., and the 5-year survival rate for all stages of cervical cancer is 61% for black women compared with 72% for white women.…”

Prevalence of HPV infection among sexually active adolescents and young adults in Brazil: The POP-Brazil Study

“…From the analyzed samples, eight (0.13%) were considered inadequate after genotyping. HPV results were grouped as follows: positive for any HPV type, positive for 13 high-risk HPV (16,18,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58,59,68), positive for other HPV (6,11,26,40,42,53,54,55,61,62,64,66,67,69,70,71,72,73,81,82 [IS39], 83, 84, 89 [CP6108]), positive for vaccine types (quadrivalent: 6, 11, 16, 18; nonavalent: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58), and multiple types (more than one HPV type).…”