Maham Saeed, Muhammad Subhan Nazar, Khadija Muqadas, Muhammad Junaid, Ijaz ul Haq, Muhammad Ahtsham Tariq, Muhammad Aqib, Shahbaz Ahmad Zakki

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS AND CERVICAL CANCER: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Introduction

Epidemiology of human papillomavirus and cervical cancer: a cross-sectional study. Explore HPV and cervical cancer prevalence and awareness in young females in Pakistan. Study reveals a significant lack of knowledge, emphasizing the need for education and vaccination.

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, cancer is the second most significant cause of mortality after cardiovascular disease. Cervical cancer, a women's disease resulting from infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), is a significant public health condition in adult women, particularly in low-income and developing countries. Objectives: This study is designed to assess the level of awareness and knowledge regarding cervical cancer and HPV among the study population. Methodology: This study used a mixed-methods approach combining a questionnaire-based survey and laboratory-based blood sampling to evaluate awareness, knowledge, and prevalence of HPV and cervical cancer in District Haripur, Pakistan. The data was collected from 499 college students to assess their awareness and understanding of HPV and cervical cancer, and the blood samples of 300 female participants between the ages of 10-35 were collected from District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Haripur. All the data collected from colleges and hospitals were manually entered into an Excel spreadsheet and then imported to SPSS Version 22 for analysis. The questionnaire was adapted from previously validated instruments used in earlier studies. Results: The questionnaire survey and blood reports showed that out of the total cases, 50 (16.7 %) were positive for HPV infection, either IgM, IgG, or both. And 250 (83.3 %) were negative patients. Among 500 university students, only 102 (20.4%) knew that cervical cancer is a gynecologic cancer, and most of them did not know either cervical cancer or its leading cause is human papillomavirus (HPV). Conclusion: This study shows a substantial lack of awareness and knowledge about HPV and cervical cancer among young females. These outcomes highlight the critical need for public health measures, including educational campaigns, accessible screening programs, and HPV vaccination initiatives, especially for young women.

Review

This cross-sectional study investigates the critical issue of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer awareness in District Haripur, Pakistan. The authors aim to assess knowledge levels and the prevalence of HPV among the study population, a highly relevant objective given the disproportionate burden of cervical cancer in low-income settings. The mixed-methods approach, combining a questionnaire-based survey for awareness and knowledge with laboratory-based blood sampling for HPV antibodies, is a commendable strategy that attempts to provide a comprehensive view of the problem. Furthermore, the focus on a specific geographical region in Pakistan provides valuable localized data that can inform regional public health initiatives. However, the methodology presented raises several significant concerns that limit the interpretability and robustness of the findings. Crucially, the abstract describes two distinct study populations: 499 college students surveyed for awareness, and 300 female participants (aged 10-35) from a hospital whose blood samples were collected. The abstract does not clarify if these groups overlap or how the data from these disparate populations are integrated for analysis, making it difficult to ascertain which population each result pertains to. The use of IgM and IgG antibodies for HPV detection indicates past or current exposure/immune response rather than active viral infection, which is typically identified through PCR for HPV DNA. This choice of diagnostic method might misrepresent the true epidemiological prevalence of active infections linked to cervical cancer risk. Additionally, including participants as young as 10 years old for blood sampling in an HPV study, without specific justification or stratification, warrants careful ethical consideration and detailed methodological explanation. Despite these methodological limitations, the study effectively highlights a significant finding: a substantial lack of awareness and knowledge regarding HPV and cervical cancer among young females in the region. The reported 16.7% HPV seropositivity rate, coupled with only 20.4% of students knowing cervical cancer is a gynecologic cancer and even fewer understanding its link to HPV, underscores an urgent public health need. The conclusion, emphasizing the critical need for educational campaigns, accessible screening programs, and HPV vaccination initiatives, is strongly supported by these awareness deficits. Future studies would benefit from a more clearly delineated and representative sampling strategy, the use of more direct HPV detection methods (e.g., DNA PCR), and a detailed breakdown of findings across different age groups within the target population to provide a more precise and actionable epidemiological picture.

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