DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTIC OF HPV INFECTION IN WOMEN - A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY FROM GUWAHATI, INDIA

Abstract

Background: Human papilloma virus is a dominant factor for cervical carcinogenesis. About 70% of cervical cancer cases are related to infection with high risk (H-R) HPV types mostly HPV16 &HPV18. First coitus at a younger (≤ 15) age, high parity, and early age at marriage behave as major risk factors for HPV infection.

Objective: On this background, the present study has been carried out to detect genital HPV infection in women between 15-65 years and its association with age factor, marriage and parity.

Materials & methodology: The Nested PCR using primers for L1 consensus gene with My9/My11 & GP6+/GP5+ followed by multiplex PCR is carried out in cervical scrapping to detect HPV 16 & HPV18 by respective primers. The HPV positive cases were compared with their corresponding socio demographic data available in the proforma filled up during the sample collection.

Result: The study showed significant association of HPV infection in women who had early marriage (p<0.01). Though age factor and parity status did not show significant association, they behave as an independent factor for HPV infection.

Conclusion: on account of the central role of HPV infection in cervical carcinogenesis, any risk factor other than HPV like early marriage, high parity and age itself may play a role by either increasing the risk of acquisition or duration of the infection, or by increasing the risk of progression from HPV infection to cervical cancer.