Bacterial vaginosis and specific high-risk human papillomavirus genotype infection: a cross-sectional study in Nairobi, Kenya

Background Emerging evidence indicates that bacterial vaginosis (BV) plays a role in high-risk Human Papillomavirus (hr-HPV) infection. However, the BV/hr-HPV association is still an under-explored concept in Africa, a region overburdened by the highest prevalence of both infections and cervical cancer in the world. Additionally, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding which specific hr-HPV genotypes contribute to this association in Africa. The objective of this study was to investigate whether BV is significantly associated with hr-HPV infection in Africa, with particular emphasis on the specific hr-HPV genotypes contributing to this association. Methods This publication is based on a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from an ongoing cohort study. A total of 498 women met the eligibility criteria and were screened for BV, hr-HPV, and cervical lesions at baseline between July 2022 and November 2023. Logistic regression, C hi -square tests, and t tests were used to investigate associations among hr-HPV genotypes, BV, cytology results, and other risk factors. In all tests, a p -value of