This project aims is to monitor the effectiveness of HPV vaccination in real-word conditions, at least 7 years after initiation of HPV vaccination in Sikkim. This study would give an opportunity to provide rapid feedback to the Indian public health authorities about the impact of the HPV vaccine.
The investigators would like to estimate the prevalence of HPV infections based on cervical samples collected from the Sikkimese women aged 18 to 22 years at baseline (i.e. when the study participants are expected to have no benefit of vaccination) and seven years after the launch of the HPV vaccination programme, by which time the initial vaccinated cohorts will be aged 18 to 22 years and many of them will be sexually active. If the vaccination programme continues with the current high coverage rate, the cohort of women in the second age group are expected to be protected due to herd immunity, irrespective of whether any individual woman receives the vaccine or not. Overall effectiveness to protect women aged 18-22 years against targeted and non-targeted HPV infections will be monitored through repeated cervical sample -based surveys.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
5,500
Women will be approached one time only, when they will attend the gynecology out-patients department for various reasons. After signing the informed consent, the participants will fill in a risk factor questionnaire to study the socio-demographic information, sexual history and HPV vaccination history and the determinent of HPV infection. The questionnaire will be administered by a trained social worker or nurse. A gynecologist will collect cervical cells from the participant's cervix during a gynecological examination. The cervical specimen will be examined for presence of specific HPV genotypes and Chlamydia infection.
Sikkim Manipal Hospital
Gangtok, Sikkim, India
RECRUITINGThe reduction in the point prevalence of genotype-specific HPV infection in women within 7 years of initiation of HPV vaccination compared to that at baseline
The investigators will estimate difference in the prevalence of genotype-specific HPV infection based on cervical samples collected from the married women aged 18 to 22 years at baseline (in the year 2020-21) and again in the year 2025-26 (seven years after the initiation of the HPV vaccination program).
Time frame: 7 years
The difference in the point prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis infection in women within 7 years of initiation of HPV vaccination compared to that at baseline
The investigators will estimate difference in the prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis infection based on cervical samples collected from the married women aged 18 to 22 years at baseline (in the year 2020-21) and again in the year 2025-26 (seven years after the initiation of the HPV vaccination program). The estimate will allow the investigators to understand any change in the background risk of sexually transmitted infection in the population over time.
Time frame: 7 years
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