Background. Data, on human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence are essential for developing cost-effective cervical cancer prevention programs. Methods. In 2005,710 human immunodeficiency virus (HlV)-positive and. 226 HIV-negative Rwandan women enrolled in an observational prospective cohort study. Sociodemographic data, CD4 ' cell counts, and cervical specimens were obtained. Cervicovaginal lavage specimens were collected, from each woman and tested, for >40 HPV types by a polymerase chain reaction assay; HPV types 16,18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68 were considered primary carcinogenic HPV types. Results. The prevalence of HPV was higher in HIV-positive women than in HIV-negative women in all age groups. Among HIV-infected, women, 69% were positive for ≥1 HPV type, 46% for a carcinogenic HPV type, and. 10% for HPV-16. HPV prevalence peaked, at 75% in the HIV-positive women aged. 25-34 years and then declined with age to 37.5% in those ≥55 years old (P trend < .001 ). A significant trend, of higher prevalence of HPV and carcinogenic HPV with lower CD4 ' cell counts and increasing cytologic severity was seen among HIV-positive women. Conclusions. We found a higher prevalence of HPV infection in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative Rwandan women, and the prevalence of HPV and carcinogenic HPV infection decreased with age. © 2009 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.
