The influence of sexual attitudes on genital human papilloma virus infection

Abstract

Background: Infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) is causally associated with cervical cancer. Many studies have tried to show some kind of association between age, marital factors, educational level and  sexual behaviour with the risk of developing HPV and cervical cancer. Such socio-demographic factors may be useful in risk scoring.

Aims: This study examined the association between sexual attitudes and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection of the cervix aimed at helping in the development of an effective risk scoring system for cervical cancer screening.

Methods: The subjects were 450 randomly selected sexually active women attending the antenatal, postnatal, gynaecology and family planning clinics in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria between April 1, 2001 and May 31, 2002. Pap smears of these patients were examined microscopically for evidence of HPV infection. A questionnaire assessing various sexual characteristics of the patients were administered.

Results: Abnormal smears occurred in 245 (54.5%) of the patients screened. Forty-eight women (10.7%) had HPV associated changes constituting 19.6% of all abnormal smears. Their ages ranged between 15 and 64 years, with a mean of 26.3 years. There was a statistically significant association between multiple sexual partners, coital frequency per week and the occurrence of genital HPV infection.

Conclusion: Women  with multiple sexual partners and frequent coitus are at increased risk of acquiring HPV infection of the cervix and should be the target in a sporadic or an organized cervical cancer screening programme without discriminating against other sexually active women.

Keywords: Influence, Infection, Sexual attitudes, Human papilloma virus