Objective: To investigate the epidemiology of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in Malian women, for whom cervical cancer is the most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality.
Methods: Pilot study of 202 women aged 15-65 to determine the prevalence rate of high-risk HPV infection among unscreened Malian women. Information on risk factors was collected through a standardized, structured interview and clinical examination. High-risk (HR) HPV DNA was detected using signal amplification methods (hybrid capture II).
Results: High-risk HPV DNA was detected in 12% of unscreened women, while visual inspection after application of acetic acid and Lugol's iodine (VIA/VILI) identified suspicious abnormalities in 2.5% of unscreened women. Histopathological evaluation of VIA/VILI-positive biopsies revealed no evidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cervical cancer. The majority of infections occurred among women in the 15-24 year old range. Compared to women who were married or widowed, single women were 3.5 times more likely to be infected with HR HPV.
Conclusions: The prevalence of infection with cancer causing types of HPV in this study was 12%. These prevalence estimates are consistent with what has been reported previously for other West African countries.
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.