Cervical cancer represents a critical public health challenge, especially in developing countries where it significantly contributes to cancer-related mortality among women. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a primary etiological factor for cervical cancer. In India, cervical cancer accounts for 9.4% of all cancers and 18.3% of new cancer cases. Despite the availability of cytological screening methods such as the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear, issues with sensitivity and coverage highlight the need for alternative strategies, such as HPV-DNA testing. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of high-risk HPV serotypes (16, 18, 31, and 45) in women aged 25-65 years attending a tertiary care center, and assess the utility of HPV-DNA testing in primary cervical cancer screening.
