Abstract
The objective of this study was to estimate the lifetime age-specific cumulative incidence of self-reported genital warts diagnosis in Slovenia and to explore the association with demographic characteristics and self-reported sexual behaviour. Data were collected in the period from November 1999 to February 2001 from a national probability sample of the general population aged 18-49 years through a combination of face-to-face interviews at the respondents' homes and anonymous self-completed questionnaires. In total, 849 men and 903 women were interviewed (response: 63.3% men, 70.9% women). Among sexually experienced respondents with available information (752 men and 842 women), previous diagnosis of genital warts was reported by 0.3% of men (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0%-1.3%) and 0.4% of women (95% CI: 0.1%-1.1%), and in the age group of 40-49 year-olds by 0.5% of men (95% CI:0.0-3.2) and 0.7% of women (95% CI: 0.2%-2.9%). In comparison to women with fewer than 10 lifetime male partners, those who reported to have had at least 10 male partners were more likely to have a previous diagnosis of genital warts (adjusted odds ratio: 7.2 (95% CI: 1.1%-47.8%). The lifetime cumulative incidence of self-reported genital warts diagnosis among Slovenians was relatively low in comparison to other published estimates from probability sample surveys in the general population in European countries. Our findings will inform the Slovenian vaccination policy against human papillomaviruses (HPV) and contribute to a better understanding of the differences between European countries regarding the burden of genital warts.
Highlights
Anogenital infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 are responsible for almost all genital warts, in Slovenia as well as in other countries [1,2,3]
In the general population probability sample of 16-44 year-old British men and women interviewed in 2000, 3.6% of sexually experienced men and 4.1% of sexually experienced women reported ever being diagnosed with genital warts [6]
In the general population probability sample of 18-45 year-old women interviewed in the period 2004-2005 in four Nordic countries, clinically diagnosed genital warts were reported by 10.1% in Denmark, 12.0% in Iceland, 9.5% in Norway, and 11.3% in Sweden [7]
Summary
Anogenital infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 are responsible for almost all genital warts, in Slovenia as well as in other countries [1,2,3]. Prophylactic quadrivalent HPV vaccine has been shown to be highly effective in preventing anogenital disease, including genital warts, associated with HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in young women [4]. Since this vaccine has recently become available, and many Member States of the European Union (EU) consider introducing HPV vaccination into their national immunisation schedules [5], understanding the burden of genital warts in the general population is important in order to make informed vaccination policy decisions. The sensitivity of our surveillance system has not been formally assessed, these reported rates are assumed to underestimate the true incidence [8]
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