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.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Genital 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%).

Methods

We 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 u

SUBMITTER: Onywera H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9580722 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature