ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the type-specific prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among women in China and to provide evidence for primary prevention and screening of cervical cancer programs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May, 2004 to April, 2007, a population-based multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted by the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Women aged 17-59 years from 4 urban areas and 4 rural areas, were screened, under both liquid based cytological and HPV tests for cervical cancer. Specimens of cervical cell were used for genotyping with Linear Array or enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay. Women showed positive in primary screening were referred to exams for further colposcopy and/or histo-pathological detections.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 6723 women were included in the data analysis. The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 15.5%. Two age-specific peaks of prevalence of HPV infection were detected among the different age groups. The first peak occurred in 17-24 year-old women in both rural areas and urban areas, while the second one occurred in 40-44 year-old women in urban areas and in 45-49 year-old women in rural areas. The prevalence of HPV infection increased with the severity of diagnosed cervical intraepithelial lesions by cytological or histo-pathological test (χ(2)=62.857, 22.113, P<0.001). HPV16 (3.2%) was seen the most common high risk HPV type, followed by HPV58 (1.8%) , HPV52 (1.5%) , HPV18 (1.0%) and HPV33 (1.0%) respectively. Other common types would include HPV66 (0.64%) , HPV42 (0.58%) and HPV53 (0.46%). The prevalence of HPV16 infection in rural women was significantly higher than that in urban women (χ(2)=4.696, P< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prevalence of HPV infection in Chinese women seemed to be high and with two age-specific peaks. HPV16 appeared the most commonly seen type in women with cervical lesions. HPV58 and 18 were the predominant types. Type-specific distribution of HPV infection should be taken into consideration in the development of comprehensive cervical cancer prevention strategies in China.</p>