Hm. Bauer et al., DETERMINANTS OF GENITAL HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION IN LOW-RISK WOMEN IN PORTLAND, OREGON, Sexually transmitted diseases, 20(5), 1993, pp. 274-278
Objectives: To confirm the risk factors for genital human papillomavir
us (HPV) infection. Goal of this study: To investigate risk factors fo
r HPV detection independent of the correlated risk factors for cervica
l neoplasia in a low-risk population. Study Design: HPV DNA was assess
ed among 483 cytologically normal women with no known history of cervi
cal neoplasia. A cervicovaginal lavage was collected for HPV detection
and typing using a PCR-based DNA amplification system. Information on
risk factors of subjects was obtained through a questionnaire. Result
s: HPV DNA was found in 17.7% of study women. On univariate analysis,
factors associated with increasing HPV prevalence included younger age
, fewer years of education, lower income, higher lifetime number of se
x partners, lower age at first intercourse, nulliparity, oral contrace
ptive use, and current smoking. After statistical adjustment, we found
younger age and higher number of sex partners were strongly and indep
endently associated with higher HPV prevalence. We also observed incre
ased HPV prevalence among women with lower levels of education and low
er incomes. Conclusion: These findings and corroborative data from the
companion reports in this issue of the journal support the sexual rou
te of transmission of the virus.