Background: Cervical cancer remains a public health problem despite heavy global investment in health systems especially in low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC). Prophylactic vaccines against the most commonly detected human papillomavirus (HPV) types in cervical cancers are available and decisions on the selection of vaccine design depends on the prevalence of high-risk (hr) HPV genotypes for a particular region. In 2015, Botswana adopted the use of a quadrivalent HPV vaccine as a primary prevention strategy. Secondary prevention includes cervical smear screening whose uptake remains notably low among indigenous and marginalized communities despite efforts to improve access.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of hrHPV genotypes and cervical lesions' burden in women from the indigenous and marginalized communities of Botswana.

Methods: This prospective survey enrolled 171 non-HPV vaccinated women aged 21 years and older. Face-to-face interviews, Pap smear screening, hr-HPV and Human Immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) testing were carried out. Conventional Papanicolau smears were analyzed and cervical brushes were preserved for hrHPV testing using the Ampfire Multiplex HR-HPV protocol which detects the following genotypes: HPV 16, 18, 31, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59 and 68.

Results: In this study, 168/171 (98.6%) of the women consented to HIV testing; 53/171 (31%) were living with HIV and self-reported enrolment on antiretroviral therapy. Among the women examined, 23/171 (13.5%) had cervical dysplasia with most presenting with Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance 8/23 (35%), Low-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions 8/23 (35%), Atypical Squamous Cells-High Grade 4/23 (17%), Atypical Endocervical Cells 2/23 (9%) and Atypical Endocervical Cell favoring neoplasia 1/23(4%). However, no High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were detected. Overall hrHPV prevalence in this study was at 56/171 (32.7%). The most commonly detected hrHPV genotypes in women with cervical dysplasia were HPV39 (6.25%), HPV51 (14.5%), HPV52 (12.5%) and HPV56 (4%). Notably, HPV 16 and 18 were not found in women with cervical dysplasia.

Conclusions: Our study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and distribution of hrHPV genotypes in indigenous and marginalized communities in Botswana, and the need for further investigation of their potential role in cervical carcinogenesis in this population. These results may also serve as baseline data to facilitate future evaluation of the HPV vaccine needs.

The authors declare no competing interests.