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Prevalence of human papilloma virus infection in women in rural Ethiopia

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Abstract

In Ethiopia cervical carcinoma is the most frequent cancer in women. HPV infection is a prerequisite for this disease. However, to date there have been no data on human papilloma virus (HPV) prevalence in Ethiopia. Outpatients attending Attat hospital in rural Ethiopia were examined for the presence of HPV DNA using the Digene HPV test. 15.9% of patients were found to be HPV positive. The proportion of HPV high risk types was 13.2% [age-standardised rates: HPV: 14.4% (95% CI: 8.5–20.2); HPV high risk: 11.6% (95% CI: 6.3–16.9)]. Compared to other countries HPV prevalence is high, especially of high risk types. Until vaccination programmes take effect, screening programmes should not be based on HPV testing alone as this will lead to significant overtreatment of healthy women.

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Acknowledgements

To Hartmut Götte PhD, Digene Corp., Germany, for HPV diagnostic test kits, Birgit Konert and Magdalena Marciniak for expert technical assistance, and Jürgen Wellmann for statistical advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cytopathology Laboratory, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Muenster Medical Center, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48149, Muenster, Germany

    M. Regidor & R. J. Lellé

  2. Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany

    C. Prugger

  3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Muenster Medical Center, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48149, Muenster, Germany

    R. Ruland

  4. University of Muenster Medical Center, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48149, Muenster, Germany

    C. Prugger

  5. Attat Hospital, P.O. Box 11, Welkite, Ethiopia

    R. Schiffer

Authors
  1. R. Ruland
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  2. C. Prugger
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  3. R. Schiffer
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  4. M. Regidor
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  5. R. J. Lellé
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. J. Lellé.

Additional information

Sr. Rita Schiffer, M.D., Member of the Medical Mission Sisters and Medical Director, Attat Hospital.

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Ruland, R., Prugger, C., Schiffer, R. et al. Prevalence of human papilloma virus infection in women in rural Ethiopia. Eur J Epidemiol 21, 727–729 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-9055-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-9055-4

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