177038 Exposure to high-risk genital human papillomavirus and its association with multiple sexual partners, condom use and biologically-confirmed Chlamydia among African-American women

Monday, October 27, 2008

Puja Seth, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Gina M. Wingood, ScD, MPH , Rollins School of Public Health and Center for AIDS Research, Emory Univeristy, Atlanta, GA
LaShun Simpson-Robinson, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Ralph J. DiClemente, PhD , Rollins School of Public Health and Center for AIDS Research, Emory Univeristy, Atlanta, GA
Background/Significance: Genital HPV, which can cause cervical cancer, is the most common STI in the United States. African-American women have the highest prevalence of high-risk HPV infections. Objective/Purpose: To examine exposure to high-risk HPV in African-American women and its relation to risky sexual practices and biologically-confirmed Chlamydia. Methods: A random sample of 665 African-American women, 18-29 years old, completed an Audio Computer Assisted Survey Interview (ACASI) assessing sociodemographics and STI/HIV-associated sexual behaviors and provided vaginal swab specimens assayed for STIs and high-risk HPV. Results: The overall prevalence of HPV was 38.9%. Among women 18-24 and 25-29, it was 42.4% and 31%, respectively. Logistic regression analyses indicated that women testing positive for HPV, relative to those testing negative, were significantly more likely to have multiple partners over the past 12 months (OR= 1.81), have multiple partners over the past 6 months (OR= 1.94), not use a condom during last casual encounter (OR= 1.54), and test positive for Chlamydia (OR= 1.89). In age stratified analyses, women 18-24 years old testing positive for HPV were significantly more likely to have multiple partners over the past 12 months (OR= 2.22), have multiple partners over the past 6 months (OR= 2.16), not use a condom during last casual encounter (OR= 1.60), and test positive for Chlamydia (OR= 1.90). However, no significant correlates were identified among women 25-29 years old. Discussion/Conclusions: High-risk HPV infection is associated with multiple partners, poor condom use, and biologically-confirmed Chlamydia. HPV vaccination recommendations for African-American women 18–24 warrant special consideration.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize that African-American women have the highest prevalence of high-risk HPV infections. 2. Identify correlates of high-risk HPV infection among African-American women. 3. Discuss implications of high-risk HPV infection for African-American women between the ages of 18-24.

Keywords: African American, Cervical Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been conducting research on high-risk sexual behavior since 2002 when I first entered my doctoral program. I am currently a NIH postdoctoral research fellow at Emory University in the Rollin School of Public Health, where my training is focused on STI/HIV research with women.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.