Objectives: This study estimated the prevalence, genotype distribution, and the factors associated with oral human papillomavirus (HPV) in people who use crack-cocaine (PWUCC) in a remote Brazilian region.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study used community-based snowball sampling methods for participant recruitment. Socio-demographic, economic, drug use, and health-related information was collected from 278 PWUCC in the cities of Bragança and Capanema in northern Brazil. HPV diagnosis and genotyping were performed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Logistic regression identified the factors independently associated with oral HPV.
Results: In total, 111 (39.9%) PWUCC had HPV DNA. Several genotypes were identified, some of them with high oncogenic potential. Crack-cocaine use ≥40 months, unprotected sex, more than 10 sexual partners in the last 12 months, oral sex, exchange of sex for money or illicit drugs, oral mucosa lesions, not having access to public health services, and the absence of vaccination against HPV was all associated with HPV DNA.
Conclusions: This study identified important epidemiological characteristics of oral HPV infection among PWUCC-a highly marginalized risk population-underlining the high prevalence of oral HPV with oncogenic potential and the urgent need for control and prevention measures, especially vaccination against this virus.
Clinical relevance: It is necessary to understand the prevalence and risk factors of oral HPV in risk populations as people who use crack-cocaine.
Keywords: Brazil; Crack-cocaine; Epidemiology; Interventions; Oncogenic viruses; Oral HPV.