Prevalence of genital human papillomavirus DNA in a sample of senior school-aged women in the Australian Capital Territory
Elissa J. O’Keefe A F , Anne Gardner B , Marian J Currie C , Suzanne Garland D E , Sepehr Tabrizi D E and Francis J. Bowden A CA Canberra Sexual Health Centre, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2605, Australia.
B Cabrini Deakin Centre for Nursing Research, Cabrini Health and Deakin University, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
C Academic Unit of Internal Medicine, Australian National University Medical School, Canberra Clinical School, The Canberra Hospital, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2605, Australia.
D Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Women’s Hospital, 132 Grattan Street, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia.
E Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3053, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: elissa.okeefe@act.gov.au
Sexual Health 3(2) 91-94 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH05047
Submitted: 23 September 2003 Accepted: 9 March 2006 Published: 26 May 2006
Abstract
Background: A strong association between persistent infection with oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer is well established. Small numbers of international studies examining adolescent HPV infection and the risk factors associated are published, but there is currently no evidence on the prevalence and risk factors for HPV in an Australian, sexually active female adolescent population. Methods: To provide prevalence and risk factors for HPV in a female sexually active, senior high school population in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), a convenience sample of 161, 16–19-year-old females attending a senior high school was evaluated. The sample formed part of a larger sample recruited for a study of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses in senior high school students. A clinical record was used to collect information about sexual and other risk behaviours, while self-collected vaginal swabs were tested for HPV DNA detection and genotyping using polymerase chain reaction. Results: The prevalence of HPV DNA in this sample overall was 11.2%, with multiple genotypes in 38%. No statistically significant associations were found between HPV DNA and the number of male partners, age of coitarche, time since first sexually active, condom use, smoking or alcohol intake. Conclusions: This is the first Australian study that has examined the prevalence and risk factors for genital HPV in this demographic group. The prevalence of HPV infection is slightly lower than reported in similar age groups overseas and is lower than other Australian studies in older women and those attending sexual health centres. Of HPV-positive young women, high-risk genotypes were found in over half, with more than one-third of HPV existing as multiple genotypes. Large community-based prevalence studies are needed to guide the development of recommendations for the vaccination of young women against HPV and to support other health promotion initiatives.
Additional keywords: Australia, risk, screening.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the following people for their assistance in this study: Ruth Primrose, Sarah Martin and the students, staff and parents of the senior high school. This study was supported in part by The Canberra Hospital Private Practice Fund as well as the HPV research fund, Royal Women’s Hospital Melbourne. Elissa O’Keefe was the recipient of an ACT Health Nursing Scholarship and The Canberra Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship.
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