Lahore, A recent study conducted by Ms. Sadia Minhas, a PhD student at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) of The University of Lahore (UOL), has brought to light significant findings regarding the prevalence of oral high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) among women in Punjab, Pakistan. The research focused on understanding the distribution of genotypes and associated risk factors of oral HR-HPV infection in females with general gynecological issues.

According to The University of Lahore, the study titled ‘Molecular Characterisation and Risk Factors of Oral High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Among Females in Punjab, Pakistan’ was conducted under the guidance of Prof Dr. Farheen Ansari, Associate Professor at IMBB, and co-supervised by Dr. Idrees Khan, Vice Chancellor of Peshawar University. The research was a cross-sectional study involving 200 females from a regional gynecological hospital in Pakistan.

Ms. Minhas employed a self-administered questionnaire, followed by oral and dental examinations of the participants. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction for viral DNA extraction and oral HR-HPV genotyping.

The study found that among the 200 participants (mean age 37.76 years), 22 females (11 percent) tested positive for oral HR-HPV DNA, with single infections in 8 percent and co-infections in 3 percent of cases. The most frequent genotypes identified were HPV16 and HPV18.

Significantly, the research revealed a strong association between oral HR-HPV positive infection and sexual behaviours in the Pakistani female population. The findings underscore the need for preventive health measures, such as health education and vaccination, to be more widely implemented in the country.

This study is crucial in shedding light on the prevalence and risk factors of HPV infections among women in Pakistan, where HPV screening is not commonly practiced, and contributes valuable data to the global understanding of the virus and its impact on women’s health.