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1 in 7 Pinays at risk of HPV infection — study

Around 1 in 7 Filipino women could be infected with Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that causes cervical cancer, according to a recent study funded by the Department of Science and Technology. The DEFEAT HPV Study looked into the sexual and behavioral history of 1,100 women in Tondo, Manila and Naic, Cavite aged 21 years and above. Testing was done via Pap smear in attempts to determine if there are cervical abnormalities, and HPV genotyping. Results showed that 15.1% of women in Tondo tested positive for HPV, while 12.8% of women in Naic contracted the same virus. Of those with HPV infectious, 49% had multiple genotypes, while 78.95% had persistent HPV infections. During his presentation, lead researcher Dr. Ourlad Tantengco noted that one of the women has six HPV genotypes. 'This will be a higher risk of getting cervical cancer later compared to others with just a single infection,' said Tantengco, who is a community physician of the DEFEAT HPV Study. Tantengco explained that high-risk HPV can lead to different types of cancer, such as vaginal cancer and vulvar cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer, which men can also acquire. 'In five to 10 years, if this high-risk HPV persists, it can cause cervical cancer in women,' Tantengco said. 'In this study, we saw that if you're infected with HPV 16, 18, and 52, you are nine times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to women without this HPV infection,' he added. The research also noted that the possibility of acquiring high-risk HPV decreases by about 5.44% for every year a person delays their first vaginal intercourse. However, a person will likely have high-risk HPV by 10.91% for every additional lifetime vaginal sex partner and 10.58% for every additional lifetime oral sex partner. Updated data, timely responses The goal of the study, Tantengco said, is to update the country's HPV infection data, which was last gathered in 1998 at the Philippine General Hospital. The recent study identified HPV-52 as the leading high-risk genotype, or strain of virus, overtaking HPV-16 and 18, which were dominant in the 1998 study. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, HPV-52 is one of the most frequent high-risk types in invasive cervical cancer worldwide. Meanwhile, Tantengco noted that HPV-52 is especially prevalent in Southeast and East Asia. The study also logged low cervical screening rates (37% and 40%), HPV vaccination awareness (37% and 40%), and HPV vaccination rates (3.0% and 4.4%) in Tondo and Naic, respectively. 'Hindi lang sa mga (not just) health professionals, doctors, and nurses, but also in the family, among friends, and to the people around us. We can also share information about HPV vaccination. The Internet is also another source of information here,' Tantengco said, calling for the strengthening of health education. Not a death sentence With the new findings, Tantengco urged the public to get HPV screenings for early detection and HPV vaccines, noting that having the virus is 'not a death sentence.' 'It's not really a death sentence because some genotypes, although magpersist sila, very very low 'yung possibility of getting cervical cancer. Although it will be there forever, it will not be a death sentence,' he said. (It's not really a death sentence, because some HPV genotypes, although they may persist, have a very low risk of leading to cervical cancer. Although it will be there forever, it will not be a death sentence.) 'We encourage screening, na every 3 years magpapa-pap smear or every 5-10 years DNA test, kasi pag nahuli mo ng maaga, magagamot mo agad,' he added. (We encourage regular screening like pap smears every 3 years or HPV DNA testing every 5 to 10 years, because early detection leads to timely treatment.) The Department of Health earlier announced that it is planning to administer HPV vaccines to girls as young as nine years old. Tantengco also urged local government units (LGUs) to allot funds for HPV vaccines and screenings. "Yung mga LGUs may kapangyarihan sila to decide dun sa mga health programs na meron sila in their municipalities. So, I hope the LGUs can consider funding," Tantengco said. (The LGUs have the power to decide the health programs in their municipalities. So, I hope the LGUs can consider funding.) — RF, GMA Integrated News