The Prevalence of High-risk HPV Type among Thai Women in Phichit, Uthai Thani, Chainat and Kamphaeng Phet provinces

Abstract

       Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Thai women. Infections with 14 high-risk types of human papillomavirus (hrHPV) are associated with the development of cervical cancer. However, the prevalence of the common HPV types in the lower northern Thailand is still unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of 14 hrHPV types among Thai women aged 30–60 years in Phichit, Uthai Thani, Chainat, and Kamphaeng Phet provinces. The data (from 5,913 women) retrieved from the HPV DNA test during cervical cancer screening operations between March and May 2021 were used for the analysis. It was found that 14 hrHPV types were common (7.20%). As a result, Kamphaeng Phet province had the highest prevalence (9.07%) of HPV infection, followed by Phichit (7.55%), Chainat (6.62%), and Uthai Thani (6.05%). The three most common types of HPV found in the four provinces were HPV52 (18.08%), HPV16 (9.39%), and HPV58 (8.45%). Analysis of cell abnormalities for HPV infection among women aged 30–40 years revealed that 25% of them had cell abnormalities; and 37-year-old women had the highest abnormality rate at 6.25%. The results of this study might help to narrow down the high-risk sub-population to increase the likelihood for detecting abnormalities in cervical cancer cells and might be used to guide the development and selection of cervical cancer vaccines.