title: The prevalence of genital warts in the Baltic countries: findings from national cross-sectional surveys in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence and correlates of self-reported genital warts (GWs) among women and men aged 18-45 years in the Baltic countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2011-2013 we performed a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire to collect information on the history of clinically diagnosed GWs, sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviour. Probability sampling methods were used to invite 16,959 individuals representing the general population, of whom 7760 (45.8%) participated (Estonia: 1967 women, 1221 men; Latvia: 1525 women, 1525 men; Lithuania: 1522 women).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estimated lifetime prevalence of clinically diagnosed GWs in women was 4.6% (95% CI 3.8 to 5.5) in Estonia, 2.9% (95% CI 2.0 to 3.6) in Latvia and 1.5% (95% CI 1.2 to 2.0) in Lithuania. Among men, the corresponding values were 2.8% (95% CI 1.9 to 4.0) in Estonia and 1.9% (95% CI 1.3 to 2.6) in Latvia. The mean age at first episode of clinically diagnosed GW was 24.6 years (95% CI 23.6 to 25.5) for women and 24.5 years (95% CI 22.9 to 26.0) for men. A lifetime history of clinically diagnosed GW was associated with a history of sexually transmitted infections other than GW (adjusted OR (AOR) 3.0, 95% CI 2.1 to 4.3 for women; AOR 5.3, 95% CI 3.0 to 9.2 for men), and a higher number (5+) of lifetime sexual partners (AOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.9 to 4.2 for women; AOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.9 for men). Men living comfortably within their household income had higher odds for GW (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our estimated prevalence of clinically diagnosed GWs was lower than estimates from the general population of other European countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uusküla
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reile
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Dace
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rezeberga
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Anda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karnite
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Science, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Zeneta
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Logminiene
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Science, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Žilvinas
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Padaiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Montebello, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nygård
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001454:Baltic States / Q000453:epidemiology; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ANOGENITAL CONDITIONS; CONDYLOMA; EPIDEMIOLOGY (CLINICAL)