Cervical cancer prevention through primary vaccination is a promising approach especially for countries with high cervical cancer prevalence. Geographical differences of HPV genotype distribution are known, however little data are available for Ethiopia, the second most populated country in Africa.
Women were recruited as part of a visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA)-based cervical cancer screening program in 2 health centers in the Gondar region of Ethiopia. All consenting women underwent VIA preceded by collection of a cervical specimen for HPV testing using the Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) assay (Qiagen™).HPV-DNA-positive samples were genotypedapplying a bead-based hybridization assay usingLuminextechnoloy. All women with abnormal findings were referred to gynecologist for further management.
700women aged 18-64 years (median 35, IQR 27,40) were enrolled in the study of which 73 (10.4%) were HPV positive.
The most common high risk HPV genotypes were HPV 16 (55.6%), HPV 53* (22.2%), HPV 56* (13.3%), HPV 52 (11.1%),HPV 31 (8.9%), HPV 39* (6.7%), HPV 58 (6.7%), HPV 18 (4.4%), HPV 35* (4.4%), HPV 70* (4.4%) [*not included innonavalentHPV vaccineagainst types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58].
These data inform on the discussion regarding use of second versus first generation HPV vaccine for the country. More data are needed regarding HPV genotype distribution and correlation to disease status in Ethiopia.