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. 2024 Feb 27;13(3):209.
doi: 10.3390/pathogens13030209.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection and Risk Behavior in Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Paraguayan Young Women

María Liz Bobadilla  1   2 , Verónica Villagra  1 , Héctor Castro  3 , Marta von Horoch  3 , Soraya Araya  3 , Gerardo Deluca  4 , Vanessa Salete de Paula  2
Affiliations

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection and Risk Behavior in Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Paraguayan Young Women

María Liz Bobadilla et al. Pathogens. .

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a global health concern and ranks fourth among the most prevalent cancers in women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a known precursor of cervical cancer and preventive measures include prophylactic vaccines. This study focused on sexually active Paraguayan women aged 18-25 years, exploring the intersection of HPV vaccination and sexual behavior. Among 254 participants, 40.9% received the Gardasil-4 vaccine, with no significant differences in sexual behavior between the vaccinated and unvaccinated sexually active groups. However, a notable decrease in the prevalence of HPV among the vaccinated women highlights the efficacy of this vaccine in reducing infections. The prevalence of any HPV type was 37.5% in vaccinated participants compared to 56.7% in unvaccinated participants (p = 0.0026). High-risk HPV types showed a significant difference, with a prevalence of 26.0% in vaccinated women compared with 52.7% in unvaccinated women (p < 0.001). Although a potential decline in genital warts was observed among the vaccinated individuals, statistical significance (p = 0.0564) was not reached. Despite the challenges in achieving high vaccination coverage, the observed reduction in HPV prevalence underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring, healthcare professional recommendations, and comprehensive risk management. These findings contribute to dispelling concerns about HPV vaccination influencing sexual behavior, advocating further large-scale research to explore the impact of vaccines on various HPV types and potential cross-protection.

Keywords: HPV vaccination; Paraguay; cervical cancer; human papillomavirus; sexual behavior; vaccine impact.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the study design; collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; writing of the manuscript; or decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
HPV frequency in unvaccinated and vaccinated sexually active young women in Paraguay. High-risk HPV (HR HPV) types include Group 1 IARC, carcinogenic to humans (HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, and 59) and Group 2A IARC, probably carcinogenic to humans (HPV68). 4v Vaccine type: HPV quadrivalent vaccine targeting HPV types 6,11,16, and 18.
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