Comparisons of high-risk cervical HPV infections in Caribbean and US populations
Author Information
Author(s): Camille C Ragin, Angela Watt, Nina Markovic, Clareann H Bunker, Robert P Edwards, Stacy Eckstein, Horace Fletcher, David Garwood, Susanne M Gollin, Maria Jackson, Alan L Patrick, M Smikle, Emanuela Taioli, Victor W Wheeler, Jacque B Wilson, N Younger, Norma McFarlane-Anderson
Primary Institution: University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and type-specific distribution of cervical HPV infections among cancer-free Caribbean and US women?
Conclusion
Caribbean and US-Black women have a higher prevalence of cervical HPV infections, which may contribute to higher cervical cancer rates in these populations.
Supporting Evidence
- 35% of women from Tobago tested positive for HPV.
- 84% of women from Jamaica tested positive for HPV.
- 32% of US women tested positive for HPV.
- Jamaican women had the highest prevalence of high-risk HPV infections at 53%.
- US-Whites had a lower prevalence of HPV infections compared to Jamaican subjects.
Takeaway
This study found that women from the Caribbean and US-Black women have more HPV infections than US-White women, which could lead to more cases of cervical cancer.
Methodology
The study compared HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among women from Tobago, Jamaica, and the US, using standardized protocols for sample collection and HPV testing.
Potential Biases
The recruitment methods may have introduced selection bias, particularly in the US population.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size for the US population, which may limit the ability to detect significant differences.
Participant Demographics
The study included 212 women from Tobago, 99 from Jamaica, and 82 from the US, with varying ethnic backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI for Caribbean HPV prevalence: 41.3–53.0
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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