title: Human papillomavirus and cervical dysplasia in Nunavut: prelude to a screening strategy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of oncogenic human papillomavirus' (HPV) in Nunavut and to assess the association between HPV and squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) as a prelude to planning a better screening strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on the Pap-screened populations in 19 communities in Nunavut, Canada. SIL was determined using Liquid-based cytology, and HPV testing was done using the Hybrid Capture II assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of oncogenic HPVs in 1,290 women ages 13-79 was 26% and of Cervical Dysplasia was 7.2%. Over 90% of women with SIL had positive HPV tests. Over 75% of women who were HPV positive but SIL negative were under 30 years of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consideration should be given to using liquid-based cytology for Pap testing. Also consider concurrent HPV testing in those over 30 years old and reflex testing of HPV in those under 30 years old with a positive HPV test.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Unit, Department of Health, Government of Nunavut, Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. shealey@cov.nu.ca
authors.forename: Sylvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Healey
authors.forename: KristanJ
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aronson
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Eduardo L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Franco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020957:Nunavut; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears