Factors Associated With Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Women in the Northwest Territories

Abstract

ervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be the precursor for cervical cancer in 99% of the cases. Global HPV prevalence among women is estimated at 10%, with approximately 75% of the female population acquiring an HPV infection at least once in their lives. Furthermore, some population groups appear to be at higher risk for infection than others. 1,2 In Canada, approximately 1,300 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed each year and 380 deaths are due to the disease. 1 In some regions, Aboriginal women have higher rates of cervical cancer compared to other Canadian women. 3-6 Data from Manitoba show that in comparison with non-Aboriginal women, Aboriginal women had 1.8 and 3.6 times the age-standardized incidence rates of in situ and invasive cervical cancer, respectively. 4 In addition to oncogenic highrisk HPV (HR-HPV), several co-factors are needed in cervical carcinogenesis and little data are available regarding the determinants of HPV infection in the Aboriginal population of Canada. 7 Aboriginal groups make up approximately half of the population of the Northwest Territories (NWT). 8 A recent study among women in the NWT found that HPV prevalence was approximately 50% higher among Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal women (28% versus 18.8%, respectively). 9 We wished to examine co-factors associated with HR-HPV infection in a population of women (both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) in the Northwest Territories. The identification of various factors associated with high-risk HPV could help in the planning of cervical cancer prevention and intervention programs in this region. 10-12 METHODS This cross-sectional design consisted of a convenience sample of all women aged 14 years or older presenting for a Papanicolaou (Pap) test across all regions of the NWT from March 2009 to March 2010. Participants were asked by their local health care provider to complete a questionnaire and to give written consent to both the questionnaire and HPV testing. Refusals to participate were not tabulated. The questionnaire consisted of 20 short multiple-choice

The prevalence of human papillomavirus and its impact on cervical dysplasia in Northern Canada

“…Between the Aboriginal and the non-Aboriginal group, the age specific distribution rates of HPV infections appear to be different; however, the effect of HPV infection to cervical dysplasia was similar. The relatively high prevalence of HR-HPV other than HPV 16/18, in particular among the Aboriginal group, call for further study to understand the impact of specific predictors [49]. This study provides baseline information on HPV prevalence that may assist in surveillance and evaluation systems to track and assess HPV vaccine programs.…”

Body Mapping as a Youth Sexual Health Intervention and Data Collection Tool

“…Researchers must better understand the determinants underlying these statistics to ensure that interventions best meet the needs of NWT youth and other Northern populations. Previous research focused on the surveillance of STIs among youth in the NWT or the factors that influenced STI transmission ( Brassard et al, 2012 ; Edwards, Mitchell, Gibson, Martin, & Zoe-Martin, 2008 ; Gibson, Martin, Zoe, Edwards, & Gibson, 2008 ; Logie, Lys, Okumu, & Leone, 2017 ; Lys, 2009 ; Lys & Reading, 2012 ; Steenbeek, 2004 ; Steenbeek, Tyndall, Rothenberg, & Sheps, 2006 ). However, few studies have evaluated the impact of interventions targeting the determinants of NWT youth sexual health ( Edwards, Gibson, Martin, Mitchell, & Andersson, 2011 ; Fanian, Young, Mantla, Daniels, & Chatwood, 2015 ).…”

Honouring Stories: Mi'kmaq Women's Experiences with Pap Screening in Eastern Canada

“…In this article we explore cervical cancer as one particular health issue that needs attention. Although Papanicolaou (Pap) screening has been effective in decreasing the morbidity and mortality rates of cervical cancer (Canadian Cancer Society, 2012), Aboriginal women continue to have lower rates of screening and higher rates of cervical cancer than other Canadian women (Brassard et al, 2012;Zehbe, Maar, Nahwegahbow, Berst, & Pintar, 2012).…”