Incidence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and its relevant factors among women referring to Alzahra Therapeutic-Educational Center of Tabriz, September 2013 to March 2014

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is one of the most common sexual transmitted infections worldwide; it is the main cause of cervical cancer in women aged 15-44 years. Since identifying the factors of HPV can be useful in prevention of this infection and cervical cancer, so this study was performed with aim to determine the incidence of Human Papilloma Virus infection and some relevant factors among women referring to Alzahra Therapeutic-Educational Center of Tabriz.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 221 women aged 15-50 years with vaginal infection referred to Gynecology section of Alzahra hospital in Tabriz-Iran, 2013-2014. Data was collected using the questionnaires including socio-demographic characteristics, risk factors, knowledge about Human Papilloma Virus, and also the checklist of recording complaints, clinical symptoms and colposcopic evaluation (in the case of women who had treatment-refractory irritation and itching or warts in the genital area). Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 19), and independent t-test, chi-square and single and multiple logistic regression model. P
In this study, 46 patients (20.8%) had HPV confirmed by colposcopy and biopsy. Among the studied factors, only duration of marriage (P=0.023) and having second partner by husband (P=0.039) were significantly related to HPV. The mean of knowledge score was 12.04±3.9 from obtainable score of 0-20. There were no significant differences among the subjects with positive and negative HPV in terms of knowledge (P=0.936). Also, the incidence of HPV was two folds high in the women with marriage duration less than 10 years than the women with marriage duration more than 10 years.
Regarding to high incidence of HPV infection and moderate knowledge of participants about HPV infection in this research, it is essential to consider a comprehensive program to promote the knowledge of total high risk persons.