Human Papillomavirus Prevalence Is Associated With Socioeconomic Gradients Within a Medically Underserved Appalachian Region.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess type-specific prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in a medically underserved Appalachian area and to determine whether gradients in poverty are associated with prevalence. METHODS: Among 398 women, a validated assay tested self-collected cervicovaginal samples for 37 HPV types. Three economic strata were created based on household income below the federal poverty level for 1 person, between the FPLs for families of 1 to 4 persons, and above the FPL for a family of 4. RESULTS: Prevalence was 55.6%, with 33% having at least 1 high-risk infection. Prevalence was 27.8% for 9-valent HPV vaccine-preventable types and 39.2% for multiple types. Compared with FPL for a family of 4, women with federal poverty level for 1 person had 3 times greater prevalence, 2.3 times greater prevalence of high-risk types, and 2.5 times greater prevalence of multiple types. CONCLUSION: Human papillomavirus prevalence was high, with one-third of the sample having at least 1 high-risk type and those in the lowest-income category being disproportionately infected.