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The prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in Mombasa, Kenya

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Abstract

Objectives

A human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence survey was done in Mombasa, Kenya, to improve the knowledge of HPV prevalence and genotype distribution in sub-Saharan African countries overall, and in women of different ages.

Methods

HPV prevalence was assessed using PCR in women older than 15 years attending family planning and mother–child care services.

Results

Among 496 women, HPV prevalence was high (42.3%; 95% CI: 37.9–46.8; world age-standardized). Moreover, 46% of HPV-positive women harbored multiple-type infections. The most common types were HPV58 (10.5% of women), HPV16 (7.7%), HPV53 (6.7%), HPV18 (4.6%), and HPV6 (4.4%), and the prevalence of any high-risk HPV type was 28.8%. HPV prevalence was elevated among all age-groups (range 36.4–45.7%). Independent associations with HPV positivity were found for being in a polygamous marriage (OR = 1.7) and lifetime number of sexual partners (OR for ≥3 vs. 1 = 1.5), although they were of only borderline statistical significance.

Conclusions

These findings differ from other world regions, showing a high HPV burden in all age-groups with a high proportion of multiple-type infections. Our data strengthen the urgency of HPV vaccination in Kenya but also highlight the elevated number of women who would have positive results in an HPV-based screening program in the country.

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Acknowledgments

The authors of the manuscript have no conflict of interest to declare. The authors would like to thank Dr. M.J. Othigo, Head of the Colposcopy Clinic of the Coast Provincial General Hospital. This work was supported by the European Commission (INCO-DG Research, contract number: ICA4-2001-10088) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (grant number 35537).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon cedex 08, France

    Hugo De Vuyst, Salvatore Vaccarella & Silvia Franceschi

  2. Laboratory of Virology, AIDS Centre “San Luigi”, IRCCS Hospital San Raffaele, Via Stamira D’Ancona 20, Milan, Italy

    Maria Rita Parisi & Flavia Lillo

  3. International Centre for Reproductive Health, Tom Mboya Avenue TE04, Mombasa, Kenya

    Andrew Karani

  4. Pathology Department, Coast Provincial General Hospital, Kisauni road, Mombasa, Kenya

    Kishor Mandaliya

  5. Department of Human Pathology, University of Nairobi, Harry Thuku Road, Nairobi, Kenya

    Lucy Muchiri

  6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 25, Ghent, Belgium

    Hugo De Vuyst & Marleen Temmerman

Authors
  1. Hugo De Vuyst
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  2. Maria Rita Parisi
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  3. Andrew Karani
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  4. Kishor Mandaliya
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  5. Lucy Muchiri
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  6. Salvatore Vaccarella
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  7. Marleen Temmerman
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  8. Silvia Franceschi
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  9. Flavia Lillo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hugo De Vuyst.

Additional information

Andrew Karani—Deceased.

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De Vuyst, H., Parisi, M.R., Karani, A. et al. The prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in Mombasa, Kenya. Cancer Causes Control 21, 2309–2313 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9645-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9645-z

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