Profiling the real-world management status of high-risk human papillomavirus infection: a protocol to establish a prospective cohort of high-risk human papillomavirus-infected women in Lueyang County, China

Abstract

IntroductionPersistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. Thus, the effective treatment against HPV represents an opportunity to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Although various treatments are effective in treating HPV infection, they still provide limited benefit in reducing the rate of cervical cancer due to the lack of implementation of a standardised protocol in many low/middle-income areas. This proposed cohort study aims to describe the status quo of treatment, attributions of the treatment decision-making process and potential factors influencing treatment decisions.Methods and analysisThis is a mixed-method, 5-year prospective longitudinal study in Lueyang County, China, one of the areas with the highest cervical cancer incidence rates and lowest mean income in China. We will enrol women with hrHPV infection (at least one HPV type in the 13 high‐risk subtypes) diagnosed via a county-wide HPV infection and cervical cancer screening programme. The study procedures describe the treatment patterns and explore the potential influencing factors in treatment decision-making through questionnaires, laboratory examinations and in-depth interviews. All participants will be evaluated at baseline and at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. The primary outcome is the treatment pattern, the type and duration of which will be described later. The secondary outcomes include guideline compliance and changes in the HPV infection status. The HPV impact profile, intimate relationship satisfaction, and costs within different management groups are also described and compared.Ethics and disseminationThis study was reviewed, and all of the relevant approvals were obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Maternity Service Centre of Lueyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital (2021-001). The findings from this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and academic workshops.Trial registration numberChiCTR2100053757.

Knowledge and Practices Regarding Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women in Low-Income Areas of China: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Lueyang County, which has high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates, is a low-income region in China [ 12 ]. With an average educational level below the national standard, most of the residents live as farmers or migrant workers.…”

“…That is, women who have participated in screening generally have greater knowledge of cervical cancer than those who have not undergone screening [11]. Lueyang County, which has high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates, is a low-income region in China [12]. With an average educational level below the national standard, most of the residents live as farmers or migrant workers.…”

Knowledge and Practices Regarding Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women in low-income areas of China: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Lueyang County, which has high cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates, is a low-income region in China 12 .With an average educational level below the national standard, most of the residents live as farmers or migrant workers. Despite the initiation of annual cancer screenings in 2017, orchestrated by the local maternal and child health centers in collaboration with regional health centers and village doctors, the uptake of Lueyang County remains low.…”

Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus infection, associated risk factors, and relationship with cervical precancerous lesions in perimenopausal and older women in an area with high cervical cancer incidence in China

“…While the incidence of cervical cancer has been declining in China (13), Lueyang County in Shaanxi Province continues to exhibit one of the highest rates of cervical cancer, concurrently having the lowest average income in the nation (15). We are currently in the process of establishing a standardized holistic management model for patients at high risk of HPV infection and those with cervical-related diseases in the region.…”

“…We are currently in the process of establishing a standardized holistic management model for patients at high risk of HPV infection and those with cervical-related diseases in the region. A protocol has been published as part of this initiative (15). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the epidemiology, factors in uencing HR-HPV infection, and the association between HR-HPV genotypes and precancerous lesions among women in the perimenopausal age group (40-59 years old) and older women (60-65 years old) residing in Lueyang County.…”