title: Genital human papillomaviruses among women of reproductive age in Jamaica.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the prevalence and distribution of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types among women in Jamaica, and to explore risk factors associated with HPV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study that took place in April-July 2010 with 852 sexually-active women, 16-49 years of age, who had attended a selected public or private primary health clinic in one of Jamaica's four health authority regions. Sociodemographic data was collected from each participant by trained study staff. Each participant had a gynecological examination that included a clinical Pap test and a cervical sample for HPV detection and typing-performed using the Research Use Only Linear Array (LA) genotyping assay (Roche Diagnostics Corp., Indianapolis, Indiana, United States). Overall and type-specific prevalence of HPV infection was calculated for 37 HPV types included in the LA genotyping assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HPV DNA was detected in 460 of the 852 women (54.0%). Oncogenic HPV was detected in 297 women (34.9%) and HPV types 16/18 were found in 86 women (10.1%). The most frequently occurring HPV types were: 16 (6.2%); 35 (6.0%); 62 and 83 (5.5%); 61 and 58 (5.4%); 84 (4.7%); 18 (4.3%); and, 66 and 81 (4.2%). HPV prevalence was highest among women who were single, young (16-19 years), and had had more than three sexual partners in their lifetime.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results, coupled with high rates of cervical cancer, support introducing HPV vaccines while maintaining and strengthening cervical cancer screening services. Policy decision-making that reflects these results is instrumental to establishing a comprehensive cervical cancer program in Jamaica.
authors.affiliation: Immunization Program, Ministry of Health, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lewis-Bell
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luciani
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hariri
authors.forename: Shelly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steinau
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prieto-Lara
authors.forename: Andrea S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: Beryl
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Irons
authors.forename: Merle J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Jon Kim
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Andrus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult