title: Prevalence and risk factors of human papillomavirus infection in asymptomatic women in a Venezuelan urban area.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in asymptomatic women, using the HPV DNA Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) test. Three hundred and two women who attended the Out-Patient Gynecological Clinic of a tertiary level hospital, in a Venezuelan urban area, were selected for the study. A pap smear, a cervical swab for HC2 and gynecological exam were performed to each patient. The HC2 testing showed that 47 samples (15.6%) were positive to HPV. Forty patients (13.2%) were positive to high risk-HPV (HR-HPV) and 11 (3.6%) were positive to low-risk-HPV (LR-HPV). The prevalence of HPV infections was higher for women under 35 years (51.1%; p < 0.02), and decreased to 6.4% for women > or =65 years old. Women who had not finished high school had a higher prevalence of HPV infection (p < 0.035). Twenty six (42.6%) of 61 pathological Pap smears were positives to HPV infection. A statistically significant difference was found when HPV infection was compared in normal and abnormal Pap smear (HSIL+LSIL; p < 0.0001). Twenty four of 56 (43%) women with diagnosis of LSIL, and 2 (40%) of 5 with diagnosis of HSIL were positive for HPV infection. A statistically significant difference was found when we compared HPV infection in negative Pap smears and those with LSIL (p < 0.001). The present study found that the prevalence of HPV infection in asymptomatic Venezuelan women who attended a tertiary level hospital was 15.6%. HPV infection was more frequent in young adult, and in women with low educational level.
authors: Manuel Noriega Trigo Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zulia, Venezuela. jnunezt@cantv.net
authors: José
authors: J
authors: Núñez-Troconis
authors: Mariela
authors: M
authors: Delgado
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: González
authors: Raimy
authors: R
authors: Mindiola
authors: Jesvy
authors: J
authors: Velásquez
authors: Betty
authors: B
authors: Conde
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Whitby
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Munroe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017584:Reproductive History; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015344:DNA Probes, HPV