Prevalence and Patterns of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Genotypes, Cervical Lesions, and HPV Vaccination Status among Women Attending Kinondo-Kwetu Hospital, Kwale County, Kenya
Kinyua Felix *
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.O. BOX 43844, Nairobi, Kenya.
Mutuku Onesmus Muia
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.O. BOX 43844, Nairobi, Kenya.
Njenga John
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Kenyatta University, P.O. BOX 43844, Nairobi, Kenya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) is associated with cervical epithelial abnormalities and may progress to invasive cervical cancer when not detected and managed appropriately. This study determined the prevalence and patterns of hr-HPV genotypes, cervical lesions and HPV vaccination status among women attending cervical cancer screening at Kinondo-Kwetu Hospital, Kwale County, Kenya.
Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: Kinondo-Kwetu Hospital, Kwale County, Kenya, from November 2024 to November 2025.
Methodology: A total of 261 consenting women aged 18-64 years were recruited. Cervical samples were collected from the transformation zone for hr-HPV DNA testing targeting 13 genotypes: HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 68. Cytological smears were stained using the Papanicolaou method and interpreted according to the Bethesda System. Associations between cytological lesions and hr-HPV results were assessed using the chi-square test, with p <= 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Overall, 91 of 261 women tested positive for hr-HPV, giving a prevalence of 34.9%. Among positive cases, HPV 16 accounted for 16.5% (15/91), HPV 18 for 8.8% (8/91), and other hr-HPV genotypes for 57.1% (52/91). Cytology showed that 237 women (90.8%) had no cervical lesions, while 24 (9.2%) had cervical abnormalities. LSIL and HSIL were the most frequent lesions. Only 10 participants (3.8%) reported HPV vaccination. Agreement between cytology and hr-HPV testing was fair but not statistically significant (kappa = 0.326; p = 0.135).
Conclusion: The findings indicate a substantial burden of hr-HPV infection, low HPV vaccination uptake and a measurable prevalence of cervical lesions among screened women in this setting. The results support the combined use of hr-HPV testing and cervical cytology in screening practice.
Keywords: High-risk human papillomavirus, human papillomavirus genotypes, cervical lesions, cervical cytology, HPV vaccination, Bethesda System.