Type-specific Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and attributable risk in Aotearoa New Zealand in the wake of primary HPV screening

In 2023, New Zealand (NZ) reformed its cervical cancer screening protocol to use HPV testing as the primary screening test, prioritising colposcopy referral for instances of specific high-risk HPV type detection (HPV16 and HPV18). However, a lack of HPV prevalence studies conducted in NZ means this protocol is based on research conducted on populations of unproven generalisability. Type-specific prevalence differs geographically and by differing availability of vaccination and cervical screening programmes. The NZ cervical screening programme may benefit from re-evaluation of current protocols if more recent, local data were available.