Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with cervical cancer, the most frequent cancer in women from northern Brazil. Assessment of the short-term impact of HPV vaccination depends on the availability of data on the prevalence of type-specific HPV in young women in the pre-immunization period, although these data are currently unavailable for the study region. The aim of this study was to estimate the distribution of all mucosal HPV genotypes, including low- and high-risk HPV types, in unvaccinated college students from northern Brazil. Specimens were collected from 265 university students during routine cervical cancer screening. The HPV DNA was assessed by Polymerase Chain Reaction and positive samples were genotyped by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. Most students (85.7 %) had normal cytological results. The prevalence of HPV was 25.3 % (67/265), with a high frequency of multiple infections and non-vaccine high-risk HPV genotypes. The most prevalent type was HPV-61 (5.3 %), followed by types 82, 16, 59, and 6. Multiple infections were associated with high-risk and possibly high-risk HPVs. We demonstrated a high prevalence of HPV infection in university students from northern Brazil. Vaccine high-risk types were relatively rare, emphasizing the predominance of carcinogenic genotypes that are not prevented by the currently available vaccines. Our study highlights the need to reinforce cytological screening in women from northern Brazil, and promote the early diagnosis and treatment of the precancerous lesions associated with cervical cancer.

Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexual bacterium that causes about 92 million new cases annually worldwide and can result in Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and infertility. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of sexual infection by C. trachomatis in women assisted by an extension project at a public university in Belém, state of Pará. This is a cross-sectional and prospective pilot study that included women attended from January to March 2019. Social, epidemiological and gynecological complaints variables were collected in a specific questionnaire and endocervical secretion was collected during the Pap smear. DNA extraction was performed using a standardized kit and its control was performed by the 268bp Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of the human β-globin gene. To detect the infection, 394bp of the ompA gene of C. trachomatis was amplified by PCR. The odds ratio test was used to verify the risk of infection, according to the variables studied. The p-value ≤0.05 (95% confidence interval) was considered for the significance of the analyses. The prevalence of infection was 3.4% in the 86 women investigated, who had a mean age of 42.9 years ± 11.7 years. None of the investigated variables stood out significantly, probably due to the low sample size. The prevalence of sexual infection by C. trachomatis is low in older women.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) caused by C. trachomatis and HPV are the most prevalent worldwide. College students are characterized by being young women of reproductive age who may have risky sexual behavior. To describe the prevalence and factors associated with endocervical infection by C. trachomatis and HPV in college women in the Brazilian Amazon. Endocervical secretions were collected. The ompA gene of C. trachomatis and the L1 gene of HPV were detected. The Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, G test, Odds Ratio, and Multiple Logistic Regression were used with 95% confidence interval and p ≤ 0.05. The overall prevalence of endocervical infection by C. trachomatis was 8.3% (25/302) and by HPV was 28.9% (87/302). Low income was associated with sexually transmitted infection by C. trachomatis (14.8%, p = 0.0336). Those under 25 years old had twice the chance of HPV infection [39.3%, (OR: 2.6989), 95% CI: 1.6054–4.5371, p = 0.0002], as did women without children [31.8%, (OR: 2.333), CI: 1.1235–4.8461, p = 0.0307]. Women who did not study in a public school had 63% reduced risk of acquiring HPV infection [45.8% (OR: 0.3713), CI: 0.1951–0.7064, p = 0.0035]. C. trachomatis and HPV infections were present in low-income, childless young women who attended public schools, requiring the intensification of STI prevention policies in the Amazon region.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors associated with cervical cancer in priority municipalities of the Marajó archipelago. We conducted a study from March 2013 to February 2015 in four municipalities of Marajó. Women were recruited through oral communication. After signing the informed consent form and answering a structured questionnaire the women underwent the Papanicolaou test. The descriptive analyses were performed using frequency distribution and by medians with the standard deviation. The association of risk factors with cervical cancer was evaluated through non-parametric tests. A total of 405 women was included, with a mean age of 40.5 years. The majority had low literacy level and 42% living with a monthly family income below U$ 200. Suggestive results of invasive cervical cancer (ICC) were demonstrated in seven samples, with an overall prevalence of 1.7% and a total of 75 cases of cellular atypia was observed (18.5%). The results of ICC were more expressive between women without full primary education (p=0.0481) and between housewives (p=0,0219). We demonstrated a high prevalence of CC in isolated municipalities of the Marajó archipelago, Brazilian Amazon. Furthermore, the observed prevalence was vastly higher than that found in northern Brazil, which has the most worrisome picture in the country. CC cases were more frequent among women with low literacy level and among those who declared themselves homemakers. Our results emphasize the necessity for improvement of the screening program in the region.