Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection and associated factors among women attending cervical cancer screening in setting of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are circular, nonenveloped small double-stranded DNA viruses that infect stratified epithelium and can cause a number of life-threatening diseases. HPV is the central risk factor for developing cervical cancer and is estimated that approximately 98% of this disease is associated with oncogenic types of HPV. HPV infection leads to an estimated 266,000 cervical cancer deaths annually. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infection and risk factors associated with cervical lesion among women attending the cervical cancer screening clinic at the Ethiopian Family Guidance Association, Addis Ababa. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HPV infection. Data were collected using a questionnaire and samples leftover from cervical screening were taken. The leftover swab was air dried and DNA was extracted and amplified by using a PCR. A total of 247 women were included in the study. The prevalence of HPV was 9.72% among the population studied. Of all participants, 27.13% were positive for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-1 (CIN1). CIN1 positivity was found in half of HPV positive women. Among HPV positive women, half of them had started sexual intercourse at ages 12–17 years and 41.66% were women who gave birth at ages 12–17 years. The high prevalence of HPV and the CIN1 positive group were ages 36–57 and women with multiple sexual partners. The other groups with the highest CIN1 positive were 22.39% grade (9–12) and 20.9% primary (1–8) and uneducated women. Among HPV positive women, 83.33% had an abortion history and 80% miscarried in the first trimester. Among the CIN1 positives, 53.73% had more than two sexual partners. Among HPV positive women, half of them were users of contraception methods. In conclusion, the highest prevalence of HPV is among women who began sexual intercourse earlier and who gave birth at 12–17 years of age, have an abortion history, with MSP and oral contraceptive methods users. In addition to HPV, early pregnancy and sexual intercourse at 12–17 years of age, abortion, MSP, and oral hormonal contraceptives are factors in cervical cancer. Finally, most women do not have enough knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer and the risk factor.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with precancerous and cancerous cervical lesions among HIV-infected women in University of Gondar specialized comprehensive referral hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: cross-sectional study design

“…Several studies have revealed a notable prevalence of precancerous and cancerous cervical lesions (PCCL) in developing countries like Ethiopia, highlighting the significance of cervical cancer and HIV infection as major health concerns for women [ 2 , 3 , 19 ]. The objective of this particular study was to examine the occurrence and risk factors associated with PCCL among HIV-infected women at the University of Gondar Specialized Comprehensive Referral Hospital in Northwest Ethiopia.…”

“…The overall burden of cervical cancer is expected to increase further. Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women globally, with a range of 2.4 to 25.2%, and the second most common cancer in Africa, with a rate of 25.2% [ 3 – 5 ].…”

“…Before the Single Visit Approach (SVA) for CCP service was introduced by Pathfinder International in 2009, the majority of Ethiopian women had extremely limited access to cervical cancer screening. Ethiopia has an estimated age-standardized incidence rate of 26.4/100,000 women for cervical cancer, based on a 2012 estimate [ 3 , 6 , 9 ].…”

“…It has been firmly established that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a significant contributing factor to the development of cervical cancer. Moreover, mounting evidence links HPV to other types of anogenital cancers (such as anus, vulva, vagina, and penis) as well as head and neck cancers [1][2][3].…”