Prevalence of high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and abnormal cervical cytology and knowledge about HPV vaccine in Eastern Turkey.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The aim of the present study was to gather data on the high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) frequency and the distribution of HIPV types in Eastern Turkey in relation to cervical cytology and to assess the knowledge about cervical cancer, HPV, and vaccination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 1,000 women aged between 20-65 years who attended the outpatients clinics of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Medical School of Yuzuncu Yil University Hospital.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of high risk HPV-DNA was 2.8 %. Abnormal cytology was observed in 12.9% of the cases. Abnormal cytology consisted of cervical cancer: 0.1%, LSIL: 1.6%, HSIL: 0.5%, ASC-H: 2.1%, atypical glandular cells: 0.4%, and ASCUS: 8.3 %.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HPV was low in Eastern Turkey and the most common HPV types are similar to the literature. However, the prevalence of HPV infection is a growing problem worldwide and the awareness of the women in the region is limited.