The burden of genital warts in Slovenia: results from a national probability sample survey

The objective of this study was to estimate the lifetime age-specific cumulative incidence of self-reported genital warts diagnosis in Slovenia and to explore the association with demographic characteristics and self-reported sexual behaviour. Data were collected in the period from November 1999 to February 2001 from a national probability sample of the general population aged 18-49 years through a combination of face-to-face interviews at the respondents' homes and anonymous self-completed questionnaires. In total, 849 men and 903 women were interviewed (response: 63.3% men, 70.9% women). Among sexually experienced respondents with available information (752 men and 842 women), previous diagnosis of genital warts was reported by 0.3% of men (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0%-1.3%) and 0.4% of women (95% CI: 0.1%-1.1%), and in the age group of 40-49 year-olds by 0.5% of men (95% CI:0.0-3.2) and 0.7% of women (95% CI: 0.2%-2.9%). In comparison to women with fewer than 10 lifetime male partners, those who reported to have had at least 10 male partners were more likely to have a previous diagnosis of genital warts (adjusted odds ratio: 7.2 (95% CI: 1.1%-47.8%). The lifetime cumulative incidence of self-reported genital warts diagnosis among Slovenians was relatively low in comparison to other published estimates from probability sample surveys in the general population in European countries. Our findings will inform the Slovenian vaccination policy against human papillomaviruses (HPV) and contribute to a better understanding of the differences between European countries regarding the burden of genital warts.