Taking peopleNo phase

Estimating how common human papillomavirus infection is in girls and women

Studies how common high-risk HPV infection is in girls and women aged 9 to 50.

Key facts

Who runs it: International Vaccine Institute
Where: Lusaka, ZambiaSee the siteAlso in 7 other countries, 7 sites
Trial code: NCT06129253
Registry title: Global Burden Estimation of Human Papillomavirus (GLOBE-HPV)
Status: Recruiting
People taking part: 29,750 people, planned
Started: 23 Nov 2023
Expected to end: Dec 2027
Type of study: Observational, 3 groups
Treatments tested: Urine Sample Collection
Self-collected Vaginal Swab
Blood Samples
Record updated: 16 July 2025

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The study is looking for girls and women aged 9 to 50 years who live in the selected communities in 8 countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, to measure how common high-risk HPV infection is.

Age: 9 to 50 years
Sex: Female only

Main reasons for not taking part

Declining consent to take part in any activity of the study
A medical condition or other reason, not directly related to HPV infection or HPV-related diseases, that in the investigator's opinion prevents enrolment

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 8 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

9 to 50 years old (for urban and rural CSSs) at the time of enrollment
Resident in the selected community for at least the past 3 months (with the exception of pastoralists, refugees, and commercial sex workers)
Able to understand the purpose of the study and study procedures
If aged 18 years or older or legally considered an emancipated minor, able and willing to provide consent to participate in the study including sample collection
If aged <18 years (and not considered an emancipated minor), supported in their participation by a parent or guardian who is able and willing to provide consent, and
If aged <18 years (and not considered an emancipated minor), able and willing to provide assent to participate in the study

Who cannot take part

A medical condition or other reason, not directly related to HPV infection or HPV-related diseases, in the opinion of the investigator, precludes enrolment in the study
Decline consent to participate any activity of the study

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

Are you between 9 and 50 years old?

Where in Zambia

Also in 7 other countries, 7 sites

ZAMBARTLusaka, ZambiaContact: Julia LynchNo longer taking part

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

This study is a multi-country and multi-site project to estimate the point-prevalence of high-risk (HR) HPV genotype infections among representative samples of girls and women aged 9-50 years, and among specific sub-populations to estimate the incidence of persistent HPV infection among sexually active young women. The data to fulfill the objectives will be collected through a series of Cross-Sectional Surveys (CSS) and Longitudinal Studies (LS) in all 8 countries 3 South Asian countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and 5 sub-Saharan African countries including Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia and DR Congo. Qualitative sub-studies (QS) will be conducted in selected countries and populations following the CSS to further understand and unpack risk factors for HPV infection as well as to explore how gender-related dynamics including perceptions of gender norms and stigma, influence HPV burden and/or create barriers that shape girls/women access to and uptake of HPV prevention, screening, and treatment services. Specific study protocols and corresponding ethical applications for the qualitative sub-studies will be developed separately.

The 3 groups in the trial

Cross-Sectional Survey
There are total 14 CSS groups among 8 participating countries: Bangladesh has 3 groups for CSS (urban CSS, rural CSS, displaced population CSS); Pakistan has 3 groups for CSS (urban CSS, rural CSS, commercial sex worker population CSS); Nepal has 1 nationally representative CSS; Sierra Leon has 1 rural CSS; Tanzania has 2 groups for CSS (pastoralists CSS, displaced population CSS); Ghana has 1 urban CSS; Zambia has 1 group for urban \& rural representative CSS; DR Congo has 2 groups for CSS (population representative sample for urban and rural CSS, displaced population CSS)
Treatment: Urine Sample Collection
Longitudinal Study
There are total 11 LS groups: Bangladesh has 2 LS groups (married women up to 25 years-old \& 26-35 years old); Sierra Leone has 2 LS groups (Young girls subject to child marriage/early pregnancy \& general population); Tanzania has 2 LS groups (fishing, mining/tuck stop community \& general population) Other 5 countries have 1 LS group in each country.
Treatment: Urine Sample Collection, Self-collected Vaginal Swab, and Blood Samples
Qualitative Study
The qualitative sub-studies in five selected countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, DR Congo) will follow and draw on findings from the CSS, focusing on girls and women of different age strata as well as community members (including boys and men) and key informants in the health care system in each study site. Qualitative study methods will vary depending on the site and CSS findings, but will include both individual in- depth interviews (IDIs) (up to \~ 30 individuals per site), key informant interviews as well as multiple focus group discussions (FGDs) with \~6-8 participants/group. Detailed qualitative study methodology will be developed separately as another study protocol and adapted according to the procedures for each site.