Microbiological and behavioral determinants of genital HPV infections among adolescent girls and young women warrant the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce HPV risk
BackgroundGenital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in most populations globally. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) remain a key population group at risk for HPV infection. However, the risk factors of HPV infection among AGYW, especially in sub-Saharan A...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Reproductive Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.887736/full |
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| author | Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda Anna-Lise Williamson Anna-Lise Williamson Anna-Lise Williamson Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa |
| author_facet | Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda Anna-Lise Williamson Anna-Lise Williamson Anna-Lise Williamson Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa |
| author_sort | Harris Onywera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundGenital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in most populations globally. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) remain a key population group at risk for HPV infection. However, the risk factors of HPV infection among AGYW, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, are a subject of little investigation in published literature. Here, we investigated the factors associated with HPV infection among unvaccinated South African AGYW with a high HPV burden (prevalence: 76.1%).MethodsWe retrospectively recruited 213 AGYW learners (aged 15–25 years) from a previous cross-sectional study, the HPV Education Intervention Study, conducted in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), bacterial pathobionts, genital ulcers (due to infectious causes), candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis (BV) in the self-collected vaginal specimens were determined using the Allplex™ Panel Assays. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA v16.1. Continuous and categorical variables were computed by t-test /Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Chi-square/Fisher's exact tests, respectively. Logistic regression was used to determine the univariable predictors of HPV infection.ResultsThe overall detection rate of any viral STI, bacterial STI, pathobiont, genital ulcer, candidiasis, and BV among the AGYW was 75.0, 34.4, 90.7, 14.4, 26.9, and 43.6%, respectively. The main factors associated with HPV infection were alcohol consumption (p = 0.005), infection with any and multiple Candida species (p = 0.011 and 0.006, respectively), Candida albicans infection (p = 0.010), Ureaplasma urealyticum pathobiont infection (p = 0.044), BV-associated bacteria (specifically Atopobium vaginae: p = 0.039, BV-associated bacteria 2: p = 0.021, Gardnerella vaginalis: p = 0.021, Megasphaera type 1: p = 0.037), and BV (p = 0.011).ConclusionsOur study, albeit not necessarily generalizable, found social behavior as well as specific vaginal microbes as correlates of HPV infection among AGYW in South Africa. There is a need to investigate HPV epidemiology in other AGYW populations. The factors associated with genital HPV infection among AGYW burdened with HPV infection necessitate the need to formulate and implement population-specific public health strategies for creating HPV awareness and reducing its risk. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:34:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3b4ba4837c6d4709a213d1b090c5f671 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-3153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:34:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Reproductive Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3b4ba4837c6d4709a213d1b090c5f6712022-12-22T00:58:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Reproductive Health2673-31532022-07-01410.3389/frph.2022.887736887736Microbiological and behavioral determinants of genital HPV infections among adolescent girls and young women warrant the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce HPV riskHarris Onywera0Harris Onywera1Harris Onywera2Harris Onywera3Harris Onywera4Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda5Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda6Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda7Anna-Lise Williamson8Anna-Lise Williamson9Anna-Lise Williamson10Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa11Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa12Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa13Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa14Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDivision of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDivision of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaResearch, Innovations, and Academics Unit, Tunacare Services Health Providers Limited, Nairobi, KenyaResearch and Innovation, Mount Kenya University, Thika, KenyaSAMRC/UCT Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaSchool of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaInstitute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDivision of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaSAMRC/UCT Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaDivision of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaSAMRC/UCT Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaNational Health Laboratory Service, Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha, South Africa0Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South AfricaBackgroundGenital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in most populations globally. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) remain a key population group at risk for HPV infection. However, the risk factors of HPV infection among AGYW, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, are a subject of little investigation in published literature. Here, we investigated the factors associated with HPV infection among unvaccinated South African AGYW with a high HPV burden (prevalence: 76.1%).MethodsWe retrospectively recruited 213 AGYW learners (aged 15–25 years) from a previous cross-sectional study, the HPV Education Intervention Study, conducted in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), bacterial pathobionts, genital ulcers (due to infectious causes), candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis (BV) in the self-collected vaginal specimens were determined using the Allplex™ Panel Assays. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA v16.1. Continuous and categorical variables were computed by t-test /Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Chi-square/Fisher's exact tests, respectively. Logistic regression was used to determine the univariable predictors of HPV infection.ResultsThe overall detection rate of any viral STI, bacterial STI, pathobiont, genital ulcer, candidiasis, and BV among the AGYW was 75.0, 34.4, 90.7, 14.4, 26.9, and 43.6%, respectively. The main factors associated with HPV infection were alcohol consumption (p = 0.005), infection with any and multiple Candida species (p = 0.011 and 0.006, respectively), Candida albicans infection (p = 0.010), Ureaplasma urealyticum pathobiont infection (p = 0.044), BV-associated bacteria (specifically Atopobium vaginae: p = 0.039, BV-associated bacteria 2: p = 0.021, Gardnerella vaginalis: p = 0.021, Megasphaera type 1: p = 0.037), and BV (p = 0.011).ConclusionsOur study, albeit not necessarily generalizable, found social behavior as well as specific vaginal microbes as correlates of HPV infection among AGYW in South Africa. There is a need to investigate HPV epidemiology in other AGYW populations. The factors associated with genital HPV infection among AGYW burdened with HPV infection necessitate the need to formulate and implement population-specific public health strategies for creating HPV awareness and reducing its risk.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.887736/fullHPVdeterminantsrisk factorsadolescent girls and young women (AGYW)South Africa |
| spellingShingle | Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Harris Onywera Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda Sikhumbuzo A. Mabunda Anna-Lise Williamson Anna-Lise Williamson Anna-Lise Williamson Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa Microbiological and behavioral determinants of genital HPV infections among adolescent girls and young women warrant the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce HPV risk Frontiers in Reproductive Health HPV determinants risk factors adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) South Africa |
| title | Microbiological and behavioral determinants of genital HPV infections among adolescent girls and young women warrant the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce HPV risk |
| title_full | Microbiological and behavioral determinants of genital HPV infections among adolescent girls and young women warrant the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce HPV risk |
| title_fullStr | Microbiological and behavioral determinants of genital HPV infections among adolescent girls and young women warrant the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce HPV risk |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbiological and behavioral determinants of genital HPV infections among adolescent girls and young women warrant the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce HPV risk |
| title_short | Microbiological and behavioral determinants of genital HPV infections among adolescent girls and young women warrant the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce HPV risk |
| title_sort | microbiological and behavioral determinants of genital hpv infections among adolescent girls and young women warrant the need for targeted policy interventions to reduce hpv risk |
| topic | HPV determinants risk factors adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) South Africa |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.887736/full |
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