Factors associated with HPV and other self-reported STI coinfections among sexually active Brazilian young adults: cross-sectional nationwide study

Abstract

Objectives To analyse factors associated with genital human papillomavirus (HPV) and other self-reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) coinfections among women and men aged 16-25 years from Brazil. Design A cross-sectional, nationwide, multicentre study. Setting 119 primary healthcare centres between September 2016 and November 2017. Participants 6388 sexually active young adults were enrolled by trained health professionals. Primary outcome measure Genital HPV and other self-reported STI coinfections. Results Of 3512 participants with valid data for genital HPV and (STI)-positive status, 276 (9.60%, 95%61 7.82% to 11.36%) had HPV/STI coinfection. Among men, HPV/STI coinfection was more prevalent than HPV infection alone. Among HPV-positive participants, the percentage of subjects who reported having another STI was highest for gonorrhoea at 4.24% (95% CI 2.67% to 5.81%), followed by syphilis, herpes and HIV. Smoking, drug use and ever having a same-sex sexual experience were risk factors that were uniquely associated with HPV/STI coinfection compared with HPV infection alone. Conclusions The results identified a low prevalence of self-reported STIs, but in participants with at least one STI, the prevalence of HPV was high. These results reinforce the importance of implementing strategies to prevent risky behaviours among Brazilian young adults.