Human Papillomavirus Types Associated with Cervical Dysplasia among HIV- and Non-HIV-Infected Women Attending Reproductive Health Clinics in Eastern Kenya.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes over 99% of all cervical cancer globally. In 2019, it was responsible for 3286 deaths in Kenya. Data on the epidemiological distribution of HPV genotypes by cervical dysplasia and HIV-infected women which is important in designing prevention strategy monitoring treatment and management of cervical cancer is lacking in Eastern Kenya.

Objective: To determine HPV genotype prevalence and their association with cervical dysplasia among HIV-infected (cases) and noninfected (control) women aged 18-48 years seeking reproductive healthcare.

Methods: A cervical broom was softly rotated 360 degrees five times to exfoliate cells from the region of the transformation zone, squamocolumnar junction, and endocervical canal for HPV genotyping. Social-demographic and risk factors responsible for HPV acquisition were collected using a questionnaire. Laboratory outcome and questionnaire data statistical relationships were computed using Pearson chi-square test.

Results: 317 women (cases: 161 (50.8%), control 156 (49.2%), mean age: 34.3,SD ± 10.4, range 18-46 years) were recruited from Embu (85/317 (26.8%)), Isiolo (64/317 (20.2%)), Kirinyaga (56/317 (17.7%)), Meru (81/317 (25.6%)), and Tharaka-Nithi (31/317 (9.8%)). The frequency HPV genotypes detected by cervical dysplasia were CIN1 (cases: HPV81 (12/317 (3.8%)), HPV11 (2/317 (0.6%)); control: HPV53 and 66 coinfection (1/317 (0.3%)), CIN2 (cases: HPV11, HPV16, HPV66 ((1/317 (0.3%) each), HPV81 (6/317 (1.9%)), and single case (1/317 (0.3%)) of HPV11 and 66, HPV81 and 44, HPV81 and 88, HPV9 and 53, and HPV16 and 58 coinfection; control: HPV81 (2/317 (0.6%)) and invasive cervical cancer (cases: HPV16 (1/317 (0.3%)) and HPV81 (3/317 (0.9%)); control: HPV16 and 66 (1/317 (0.3%))).

Conclusions: There was a higher frequency of both high-risk and low-risk HPV genotypes associated with cervical dysplasia among HIV-infected than HIV-uninfected women seeking reproductive health care. This study provides epidemiological data on the existence of nonvaccine HPV types associated with cervical dysplasia in the region.