Human papillomavirus type 18/16 infection and prevalence among middle-aged and older Chinese rural women: a cross-sectional survey in Wufeng, Hubei Province.

This study aimed to measure the prevalence and potential factors related to HPV 16/18 infection among middle-aged and older Chinese rural women. The study was conducted among women aged 35-65 years in rural villages within Wufeng in Hubei Province. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire between July and August 2015. Cervical specimens were collected for HPV DNA detection and typing by using careHPV. Pearson's Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations with HPV positivity. Among 1001 participants, the prevalence of HPV 18/16 positive genotyping was 15.88% (n = 159). Husbands' extramarital sex (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 15.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.76-43.59), cervicitis (adjusted OR = 9.27, 95% CI 5.06-16.99), condom usage (adjusted OR = 0.16, 95% CI 0.05-0.53), higher average number of live births (adjusted OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.32-2.96 for two live births; adjusted OR = 3.29, 95% CI 1.39-7.81 for three or more live births) were associated with HPV infection. The prevalence of HPV infection among participating women from rural areas was higher than that in several other areas in China. Our findings can aid efforts to prevent HPV infection to lower the risk of cervical cancer.

Protection motivation theory in predicting intention to receive cervical cancer screening in rural Chinese women.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the significance of cervical cancer screening, motivating more women to participate remains a challenge in resource-limited settings. In this study, we tested the protection motivation theory (PMT) in predicting screening intentions. METHODS: Participants were women from Wufeng, a typical rural county in China. Participants (n = 3000) with no cervical cancer history were recruited from 10 randomly selected villages. As mediating variables, 6 PMT constructs (Perceived Risk, Fear Arousal, Perceived Severity, Response Efficacy, Response Cost, and Self-Efficacy) were measured using the standardized questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) method was employed to test PMT-based prediction models. RESULTS: Of the total sample, 57.77% believed that regular screening may reduce cervical cancer risk, and 45.26% agreed that women should be screened regularly. Our data fit the PMT model well (GFI = 0.95, AGFI = 0.93, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = 0.04, Chi-square/df = 2.47). Knowledge of screening was directly and positively associated with screening intention. Age, annual income, and awareness of and prior experience with screening were significantly associated with screening intention by enhancing cervical cancer risk perception and by reducing response cost (P<0.05 for both). CONCLUSION: PMT can be used as guidance to investigate cervical cancer screening intentions among rural women in China with focus on cancer knowledge, some demographic factors, and awareness of and previous experience with screening. These findings, if verified with longitudinal data, can be used for intervention program development.

Association between AVPR1A, DRD2, and ASPM and endophenotypes of communication disorders.

OBJECTIVES: Speech sound disorder (SSD) is one of the most common communication disorders, with a prevalence rate of 16% at 3 years of age, and an estimated 3.8% of children still presenting speech difficulties at 6 years of age. Several studies have identified promising associations between communication disorders and genes in brain and neuronal pathways; however, there have been few studies focusing on SSD and its associated endophenotypes. On the basis of the hypothesis that neuronal genes may influence endophenotypes common to communication disorders, we focused on three genes related to brain and central nervous system functioning: the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene, the arginine-vasopressin receptor 1a (AVPR1A) gene, and the microcephaly-associated protein gene (ASPM). METHODS: We examined the association of these genes with key endophenotypes of SSD - phonological memory measured through multisyllabic and nonword repetition, vocabulary measured using the Expressive One Word Picture Vocabulary Test and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and reading decoding measured using the Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests Revised - as well as with the clinical phenotype of SSD. We genotyped tag single nucleotide polymorphisms in these genes and examined 498 individuals from 180 families. RESULTS: These data show that several single nucleotide polymorphisms in all three genes were associated with phonological memory, vocabulary, and reading decoding, with P less than 0.05. Notably, associations in AVPR1A (rs11832266) were significant after multiple testing correction. Gene-level tests showed that DRD2 was associated with vocabulary, ASPM with vocabulary and reading decoding, and AVPR1A with all three endophenotypes. CONCLUSION: Endophenotypes common to SSD, language impairment, and reading disability are all associated with these neuronal pathway genes.