SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH-RISK HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HRHPV) INFECTION AMONG WOMEN LIVING IN RIGA, LATVIA 

Description

Introduction: Although >90% of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infections resolve spontaneously, the rest can progress to cervical cancer. The knowledge on sociodemographic and general health factors associated with hrHPV infection, crucial for cancer prevention, is sparce for Baltic countries. Here, we aimed to delineate the factors associated with hrHPV infection in healthy females residing in Latvia.
Methods: Females (n=83; 42.2±10.1 years) were examined by on-line questionnaire collecting sociodemographic data and general health information. Quest was followed by observation by gynecologist. Cervical smears were collected and analysed for hrHPV DNA by PCR (Anyplex HPV14, Seegene, South Korea), 18 (21.2%) were hrHPV-positive (HPV(+)). Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests.
Results: Majority were married or had stable partners (81.9 %, n=68) and children (86.6 %, n=71). All had completed secondary, most, also higher education (62.7 %, n=52). Most were employed (91.6 %, n=76), although 28.9 % did not feel socially secure, and only 56.4 % were satisfied with their earnings. In contrast to earlier findings, no associations were found between hrHPV(+)-status and any of the sociodemographic factors. Also, HPV prevalence did not differ in those undergoing or not cervical screenings (p>0.05). As expected, hrHPV infection was more prevalent among women who used other contraceptives than condoms and IUD or no contraceptives (p<0.05), and those with no knowledge of HPV vaccination (p=0.008). Unexpectedly, hrHPV infection was significantly more prevalent in females who reported no diseases or health-disturbing problems (p=0.008).
Conclusions: High HPV prevalence is significantly associated with a healthy status, ineffective protection/contraception, and absence of knowledge on HPV infection/vaccination. Prevention of hrHPV infection can at large be achieved through education and regular screenings in general population, irrespective of indications. Latvian Science Fund project LZP2021/1-0484 is acknowleded for support.

Period	12 Nov 2024 → 13 Nov 2024
Event title	International Papillomavirus Conference 2024
Event type	Conference
Location	Edinburgh, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International