International Journal of Research & Review (www.gkpublication.in) 68 Vol.3; Issue: 6; June 2016 International Journal of Research and Review www.ijrrjournal.com E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 Original Research Article Prevalence of HPV Infection in Women at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mumbai Preeti U. Deshpande 1* , Preeti R. Mehta 2* , Shilpa C. Kerkar 3** , Purva P. Sarkate 4* , Nayana A. Ingole 5* , Jayanti Mania-Pramanik 6** , Padmaja Samant-Mavani 5# , Urmila Parikh 7# 1 Speciality Medical Officer, 2 Professor & Head, 3 Technician C, 4 Assistant Professor, 5 Associate Professor, 6 Scientist F, 7 Senior Scientific Officer, * Department of Microbiology, Seth G.S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai. ** National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai. # Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Seth G.S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai. Corresponding Author: Preeti U. Deshpande Received: 20/06/2016 Revised: 24/06/2016 Accepted: 29/06/2016 ABSTRACT Background: Prevalence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a known cause of cervical cancer has been reported to be more in HIV positive women. However, the HPV prevalence data in general population and HIV positive women in India is scarce. This hinders the development of policies regarding the screening, vaccination and follow- up of women for HPV infection Aims: To estimate the prevalence of HPV in adult women and compare HPV prevalence in HIV infected and HIV non- infected women. Methods: Women attending Gynaecology OPD with known HIV status were enrolled in this cross- sectional study. Their cervical specimens were collected for HPV DNA PCR and genotyping (HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18). Statistical analysis was done using Chi- square/ Fisher’s exact test. Results: A total of 188 women were enrolled of which 38 were HIV positive and 150 were HIV negative. Of the total cervical specimens collected, 172 showed adequate DNA and HPV DNA PCR were positive in 15 of these samples (8.72%). HPV DNA positivity was 13.89% (5/36) in HIV infected and 7.35% (10/136) in HIV non- infected women (P=0.3147). High risk HPV genotypes 16/18 were found in 12/15 (80%) women. Conclusions: Owing to the 8.72% prevalence of HPV, there is a need to screen all adult women for early detection of HPV infection and HPV vaccination should also be considered. Key words: HPV, HIV, cervical cancer, screening, vaccination. INTRODUCTION Despite the high incidence of cervical cancer reported from India, large scale population based studies on the HPV prevalence and genotype distribution are few from this region. Since geographical variation may exist, knowledge about the distribution of HPV types circulating in the communities in different regions of India would be useful in understanding the prevalence of HPV genotypes and devising the optimum strategy for effective vaccination in India. [1-4] Hence, a study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of HPV in adult women in a tertiary care hospital setting and to compare HPV prevalence in HIV infected and HIV non- infected women. MATERIALS AND METHODS After Institutional Review Board approval, a cross- sectional study was carried out over a period of one year at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai. Adult women (≥18 years) attending gynaecology OPD referred for Pap smear were included in the study provided their HIV test report was known. Pap smear is a