Data from: High human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in South African adolescents and young women encourages expanded HPV vaccination campaigns

Objectives: To investigate prevalence of cervical human papillomavirus
(HPV) genotypes to inform HPV vaccination strategy in South Africa and to
study factors associated with HPV prevalence. Methods: Sexually active,
HIV-negative women, aged 16-22 years recruited from Soweto (n=143) and
Cape Town (n=148) were tested for cervical HPV and other genital
infections. Results: Overall HPV prevalence was 66.7% (194/291) in young
women. Cape Town women were more likely to have multiple HPV infections
than the Soweto women (48.0%, 71/148 versus 35.0%, 50/143 respectively,
p=0.033) and probable HR-HPV types (34.5%, 51/148 versus 21.7%, 31/143
respectively, p=0.022). The most frequently detected HPV types were HPV-16
(11.7%), HPV-58 (10.3%), HPV-51 (8.9%), HPV-66 (8.6%), HPV-18 and HPV-81
(7.6% each). HPV types targeted by the bivalent HPV vaccine (HPV-16/18)
were detected in 18.6% (54/291) of women, while those in the quadrivalent
vaccine (HPV-6/11/16/18) were detected in 24.7% (72/291) of women; and
those in the nonavalent vaccine (HPV-6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58) were
detected in 38.5% (112/291) of women. In a multivariable analysis, BV
remained significantly associated with HPV infection (OR: 4.0, 95% CI:
1.4-12.6). Women were more likely to be HPV positive if they had received
treatment for STI during the past 6-months (OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.1-12.4) or
if they had ever been pregnant (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.1-5.5). Compared to
women who reported only one sexual partner, those with increased number of
lifetime sex partners were more likely to have HPV (4-10 partners: OR:
2.9, 95% CI: 1.1-8.0). Conclusion: The high prevalence of HPV types
targeted by the nonavalent HPV vaccine encourages the introduction of this
vaccine and catch-up HPV vaccination campaigns in South Africa. The high
burden of BV and concurrent STIs also highlights the need to improve the
prevention and appropriate management of sexually-acquired and other
genital tract infections in South African youth.