Prevalence of Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus in Pregnant Adolescents, Association With Colpocytological Changes, Risk Factors and Obstetric Outcomes

Abstract Purpose: We aim to carry out an investigation on the impact of cervical oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in pregnant adolescents, to clarify the prevalence and risk factors, considering the importance and lack of data on this topic in Brazil.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with adolescents receiving specialized prenatal care in a tertiary hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. On the first prenatal visit, were performed an oncotic colpocytological exam and an oncogenic-HPV assessment of the uterine cervix. We sought the association these exams with demographic and obstetric variables.Results: A total of 303 pregnant adolescents whose mean age was 15.30 ± 1.22 years comprised the study subjects. The prevalence of high-risk HPV cervical infection was 50.50%. Multivariate analysis revealed that a large number of partners in their lifetime (OR=1.268) and having a religion (OR=2.054) were risk factors for oncogenic HPV-caused cervical infection, while schooling appeared as a protective factor (OR=0.847). There was an association between Oncogenic HPV infection and colpocytological alterations, reaching almost 30% of patients. There was no association between Oncogenic HPV infection and obstetric outcomesConclusion: The prevalence found is one of the highest in Brazil and worldwide. A greater number of partners during their lifetime and having religion were detected as possible factors associated with cervical HPV infection. The findings of this study reinforce the need to implement measures of health education and prevention capable of modifying the incidence of cytopathological cervical lesions and of uterine cervix cancer in this population.