Cross-sectional assessment of high-risk HPV prevalence, genotype distribution, and associated socio-behavioural correlates among women in Central Gujarat, India

Persistent infection with High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer. Data on hrHPV prevalence, genotype distribution, and associated risk factors remain limited in many regions of India. This study assessed the prevalence, genotype distribution, and socio-demographic and behavioural correlates of hrHPV infection among women undergoing cervical cancer screeningin Central Gujarat, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 625 women aged 30–60 years recruited through a gynaecology outpatient department and 11 community screening camps. All participants underwent both Liquid-Based Cytology (LBC) and real-time PCR-based hrHPV DNA testing. Descriptive analyses were performed to estimate hrHPV prevalence and genotype distribution. Exploratory associations between participant characteristics and hrHPV positivity were assessed using crude odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and Fisher’s exact test. Histopathological findings were summarized for hrHPV-positive women who underwent colposcopy-directed biopsy. In the present study, the hrHPV prevalence was 3.2% (20/625), with positivity rates of 4.29% in the hospital-based cohort and 2.17% in the community-based cohort. Among hrHPV-positive women, HPV-18 was the most frequently detected genotype (50.0%, 10/20), followed by HPV-16 (35.0%, 7/20) and other high-risk HPV genotypes (15.0%, 3/20). Univariate exploratory analyses suggested associations of hrHPV positivity with reported tobacco chewing (OR 32.85, 95% CI 9.43–114.42; p < 0.001), parity greater than two children (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.18–7.77; p = 0.018), age at marriage below 18 years (OR 3.50, 95% CI 1.33–9.20; p = 0.009), and irregular menstrual history (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.11–7.01; p = 0.012). Among hrHPV-positive women, 90.0% had negative or low-grade cytology, whereas histopathological evaluation identified CIN II/III in 45.0% and invasive cervical carcinoma in 15.0%. This study provides preliminary data on hrHPV prevalence and genotype distribution among women undergoing cervical cancer screening in Central Gujarat. HPV-18 was the most frequently detected genotype among the limited number of hrHPV-positive cases. The findings also suggest that clinically significant cervical lesions may be present in some hrHPV-positive women despite negative or low-grade cytology. Given the cross-sectional design and the small number of hrHPV-positive cases, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Larger multicentre studies are needed to confirm genotype distribution, evaluate associated risk factors, and inform cervical cancer screening strategies in India.