Modelo epidemiológico para avaliação de estratégias de vacinação contra o virus do papiloma humano

Abstract

Cervix cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide, and the infection by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been proven a necessary aetiological factor. With a vaccine against HPV infection being made available, arises the need for effective vaccination strategies which would maximize its impact. Therefore, it becomes necessary to model both the virus’ propagation dynamics as well as the effect that vaccine immunization will have in it. The present work proposes a HPV epidemiological dynamics model, in a preliminary effort that enables the identification of the data needed for modelling the behaviour of sexually transmitted diseases and which knowledge gaps need to be filled regarding the sexual activity of the Portuguese population.