A Cohort Study to Address the Natural History of HPV and Cervical Dysplasia in Trivandrum, South India: Methodological Issues and Initial Results

Abstract

Epidemiological studies, especially cohort studies have many limitations in countries like India. The presentpopulation based molecular epidemiolohgical cohort study was planned to address the prevalence, risk factors andnatural history of uterine cervical HPV infection in women in an area of suburban dwellings in South India.Epidemiological data, blood samples and cervical scrape smears were collected from women after obtaining aninformed consent. A compliance rate of 38% for the first round of screening was noted. More than 70% of womendemonstrated evidence of inflammation in their smears.