Prevalence and Type of HPV Genital Infection in Girls: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objectives This investigation explored the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection by subtypes in girls aged up to 12. Methods Four indexed databases, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and LILACS, were evaluated. Twenty-nine observational studies published between 1992 and 2018 were included. Results The prevalence of genital condyloma acuminatum or HPV-positive serology due to prior infection among girls with suspected/confirmed sexual abuse was 25%, and without a history or information about abuse, 8%. The analysis indicated that low-risk HPV types were the most prevalent among this group, corresponding to 86.6% of the identified types. Human papillomavirus 6 and 11 were the most prevalent types, followed by HPV 16 and 2. Moreover, the analysis identified limited epidemiological data on genital warts in children up to 12 years. Several studies focused on convenience sampling, sexually abused girls, or failed to separate data by gender. Conclusion Findings of our systematic review and prevalence meta-analysis indicate that the occurrence of HPV infection in girls aged 12 or younger is relatively rare, underscoring the significance of understanding the prevalence of HPV in the pediatric population. However, it is essential to be cautious when applying these results to the pediatric population, given cases of girls who are suspected of or have suffered sexual abuse. There is a pressing need for further research to fill the information gap on HPV infection in this vulnerable group.