Human Papillomavirus related issues in western Kazakhstan: protocol for a comprehensive study

This article describes a Protocol for a study to determine a scope of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and evaluate cervical cancer prevention measures in the western Kazakhstan. Introduction — ICO (Institut Catala d’Oncologia) working group in 2015 informed that cervical cancer in Kazakhstan ranked as the 1st most frequent cancer among 15-44 aged women. Aim — comprehensive analysis of the HPV infection across the female population to predict further trends in the cervical cancer morbidity and outline the circle of urgent preventive measures. The most important tasks are the following: to analyze a set of clinical, laboratory and socio-demographic data for identification the region-specific risk factors of the disease; to present a comparative analysis of diagnostic screening tools practiced in the region for the development corrective recommendations for existing screening strategy. Methods — This study constitutes a mix of three different types: interview+cross-sectional study for general female population and interview+case-control study for women with the first time diagnosed cervical cancer, where women of the general sample of the same age with detected HPV infection but not affected by the disease serve as a control for those with the disease. Anticipated Results — A high feasibility and pithiness of this study is expected. Obtaining a wide body of information relatively HPV scope and a quality of the screening process during a patient’s single visit is the main strength of the research. Conclusion — Successful implementation of challenges announced in the research can lead to changing a general vector or/and constituent parts of the existing screening program