Detection of High Oncogenic Risk Human Papilloma Virus With CareHPV Test in Women Attended in Health Units in Copán Honduras

Abstract

Background and context: Persistent infection with high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) is identified as the main cause of premalignant and malignant cervical diseases. The identification of HR-HPV by viral DNA has been used in multiple studies to characterize the infection, the careHPV test presented HR-HPV prevalence in Latin American countries of: Costa Rica (16%), Mexico (14.5%), Colombia (14.9%), and Chile (14.0%). Cervical cancer represents a public health problem in Latin America, and in Honduras is the main cause of cancer in women. Half of Honduran women at risk are not systematically screened for cervical cancer. Aim: Identifying women at risk for premalignant lesions with rapid and efficient tests can guarantee timely treatment. Strategy/Tactics: Retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study at Copán health units (La Entrada, Florida, Trinidad and San Juan Planes), where the results of the careHPV test were analyzed to determine HR-HPV genotypes, in 540 women between 30 and 65 year from September 2016 to March 2017. Program/Policy process: Positive patients received VIAA, and colposcopy/biopsy according to national cervical cancer screening guideline 2015. Outcomes: 458 negative women for HR-HPV 85% and 82 positive women 15%. The age group with the highest prevalence of HR-HPV was 30-49 years. Of 69 positive women, 64 received visual inspection with acetic acid (93%), 47 resulted with negative VIAA (73%), 2 with positive VIAA suspected invasive cancer, both were referred to colposcopy/biopsy, and 15 women with positive VIAA (24%) referred to cryotherapy. What was learned: The prevalence of infection by HR-HPV in the study group was 15%, similar to that reported in the literature. Standardizing the use of careHPV as a screening test can guarantee the prevention of invasive stages of cervical cancer.