Human papillomavirus infection among young adolescents in India: Impact of vaccination
Abstract
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) are the causative agents of cervical cancer and prophylactic HPV vaccination has been recommended for adolescents but no data are available on the prevalence of HPV infection among adolescents in India. Self-collected midstream urine samples from 940 healthy school children, aged 8-17 years, from 12 different schools in and around Noida and Delhi, India, were collected for HPV detection by PCR. Of 458 girls, 15 (3.2%) were positive for HPV and 10 (66.6%) were positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) type16 and 2 (13.3%) for HPV 18. Of 342 boys, 7 (2.1%) were HPV positive, of which 5 (71.4%) had HPV type 6 but interestingly, none were positive for HR-HPV types 16 or 18. Among HPV positive girls, 13 (66.6%) were >13 years and the rest were 13 years (P = 0.007). The majority of HPV positive adolescents (80-86%) belonged to the Hindu and related communities, whereas only about 14-20% belonged to the Muslim community. A significant association (P < 0.001) was observed between the parent's education and the awareness of cervical cancer, which was significantly higher among adolescent girls from India, thereby exerting an immense psychosocial impact on vaccination programs. A lower prevalence of HR-HPV infection among adolescent girls will have significant positive effect on HPV vaccination and cancer control programs in India where education and awareness should go hand in hand.
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At the individual level, limited knowledge, cultural misconceptions, and attitudinal barriers such as fear of side effects or concerns about morality were key problems, especially among less educated or rural populations.
“At the individual level, limited knowledge, cultural misconceptions, and attitudinal barriers, such as fear of side effects or concerns about morality were key problems, especially among less educated or rural populations12,14,17,19,28,37,38.”
From Barriers to HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in India: A scoping review (2026) · cites this paper as [12]
Older adolescent girls (15-19 yr) were generally more informed and receptive to HPV vaccination than younger adolescents.
“Older adolescent girls (15–19 yr) were generally more informed and receptive to HPV vaccination than younger adolescents, likely due to greater exposure to health education or peer discussions12,20,34.”
From Barriers to HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in India: A scoping review (2026) · cites this paper as [12]
The myth that the HPV vaccine promotes early sexual activity persisted across multiple study sites.
“Myths such as “HPV vaccine promotes early sexual activity” persisted across multiple study sites12.”
From Barriers to HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in India: A scoping review (2026) · cites this paper as [12]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Hussain, S., Bharadwaj, M., Nasare, V., Kumari, M., Sharma, S., Hedau, S., & Das, B. C.
- Affiliations
- Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (IN)
- University of Delhi (IN)
- Indian Council of Medical Research (IN)
- Corresponding author
- Bharadwaj, Mausumi
- Das, Bhudev C.
- Venue
- Journal of Medical Virology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-12-14
- Volume
- 84
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 298-305
- ISSN
- 0146-6615 (ISSN-L)
- 1096-9071
- OpenAlex
- W2045026722
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Medical Virology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Genital Health and Disease
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Keywords
- human papillomavirus, high-risk HPV, HPV vaccination, HPV16, HPV 18, HPV 6, cervical cancer awareness, parental education, midstream urine, India
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms, Child, DNA, Viral, Female, Humans, India, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Vaccination, Prevalence, Papillomavirus Infections, Alphapapillomavirus, Papillomavirus Vaccines
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