title: Status of human papillomavirus infection in the rural female population in Northwestern China: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and evaluate the risk factors for occurrence of HPV infection in the prevention of HPV-related cancers in Northwestern China.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, 402 rural women, ages 20 to 60 years in the rural areas of Shiquan County in the Shaanxi Province of China between August 2009 and July 2010 were interviewed and examined, and specimens were collected to identify the HPV type using the polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence rate of HPV was 12.6% (47/373). Coinfections with more types of HPV were detected in 38.3% (18/47) of HPV-positive subjects. There was an age-dependent prevalence, showing the highest prevalence among women in the study between ages 20 and 29 years (18.2%, 8/44). Human papillomavirus 35 was the most common type of infection found, occurring in 5.1% (19/373) of the HPV-positive samples, followed by HPV-16 (4.6%, 17/373), HPV-58 E7 (4.0%, 15/373), HPV-18 (1.6%, 6/373), HPV-31 (0.5%, 2/373), and HPV-33 (0.3%, 1/373). More than 1 previous abortion and women with vaginitis were associated with the increased risk of HPV infection (χ = 4.71, p < .05; χ = 9.703, p < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence rate of HPV among women in the study was 12.6%, and HPV-35 was the most common type of HPV infection in the study in Shaanxi Province. Women with more than 1 previous abortion and vaginitis had more HPV prevalence, and HPV infection could coincide with pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prevention and Health, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China 710061. yuxuewen2007@163.com
authors.forename: Xue-wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xin-wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control