Prevalence of and risk factors for human papillomavirus infection in adolescent patients attending a general pediatric outpatient department

Abstract

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is a key cause of morbidity in adolescent patients. Significant numbers of adolescents receive their health care at pediatric ambulatory facilities (pediatric outpatient departments, private pediatric offices, etc.); however, little is known about the prevalence and risk factors of HPV infections in adolescents seen in these pediatric ambulatory settings. Our study hypothesized that adolescent patients attending a pediatric ambulatory facility would have, compared with other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), high rates of HPV infection-in particular, significant rates of high risk oncogenic HPV types. In addition, we hypothesized that medical, social, and lifestyle risk factors would accurately predict those teenagers at risk for HPV infection.