Age-specific seroprevalence of human papillomavirus 16, 18, 31, and 58 in women of a rural town of Colombia.
OBJECTIVE
The study's objective was to estimate human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype-specific seroprevalence to determine population HPV exposure and inform vaccine policy.


METHODS
This study is a cross-sectional prevalence survey of 878 women of Pueblorrico, a rural town of Colombia. A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics, sexual and reproductive history, and smoking habits. Seropositivity to HPV-16, -18, -31, and -58 was determined by virus-like particles in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Overall seropositivity to any HPV genotype was 27.9%. The combined seroprevalence of women 15 to 19 and 20 to 24 years old was 35.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25.9-46.2) and 36.0% (95% CI, 27.7-45.3), respectively. Seroprevalence for HPV-16 was 17% (95% CI, 14.6-19.6); for HPV-18, 9.8% (95% CI, 8.0-11.9); for HPV-31, 11.4% (95% CI, 9.5-13.7); and for HPV 58, 12.5% (95% CI, 10.5-14.9). Higher HPV seropositivity was associated with the lifetime number of occasional sexual partners (odds ratio, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.26-7.37) and having more than 2 regular sexual partners (odds ratio, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.21-7.45) in women younger than 44 and older than 45 years old, respectively. Use of oral contraceptives and tobacco/cigarettes was significantly associated with reduced HPV seropositivity in women older than 45 but not in women younger than 44 years old.


CONCLUSIONS
Human papillomavirus seropositivity is associated with measures of sexual behavior, particularly a greater lifetime number of sexual partners. Hormonal and tobacco/cigarette use may be factors influencing the HPV seropositivity in women older than 45 years old.
Infection and Cancer Group, School of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia.
Astrid M
AM
Bedoya
Angela M
AM
Gaviria
Armando
A
Baena
Mauricio
M
Borrero
Diego F
DF
Duarte
Alba L
AL
Combita
Jorge
J
Castaño
Hugo
H
Grisales
Gloria I
GI
Sánchez
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058952:Human papillomavirus 31 / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult