Human papillomavirus incidence and risk factors among Mexican female college students.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the factors associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and its incidence in a cohort of female college students, with particular emphasis on the use of condoms.


METHODS
A cohort was created during 2001 to 2005. The students signed informed consent, answered a questionnaire, and provided a vaginal scrape to detect HR-HPV. Incidences were estimated and risk factors were evaluated using Cox proportional risk model. The variable condom use was constructed based on the following 3 measurements: relative frequency throughout one's lifetime, use during the first sexual relationship, and use during the last sexual relationship.


RESULTS
A total of 237 women participated, providing 395.6 person-years of follow-up. An incidence of 15.9 HR-HPV infection per 100 person-years was estimated and the factors associated with HR-HPV infection were found to be self-reported sexually transmitted infections (RR = 2.7), use of emergency contraception pill (ECP) (RR = 2.0), and having 2 or more sexual partners (RR = 1.9). University students using the ECP demonstrated more risky sexual behavior than nonusers. Women with 2 or more sexual partners who reported inconsistent condom use had 3.8 times the rate of HR-HPV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence for HR-HPV in this cohort of Mexican female college students is comparable to that found in the United States and Canada. The results suggest that the consistent use of condoms is a protective factor against HR-HPV, especially for women with multiple sexual partners and/or those who use the ECP.
Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Miguel A
MA
Sánchez-Alemán
Felipe J
FJ
Uribe-Salas
Eduardo C
EC
Lazcano-Ponce
Carlos J
CJ
Conde-Glez
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000502:physiology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult