OBJECTIVE:

To determine the prevalence of cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in pregnant women from the Municipality of Imperatriz, Maranhão State, Brazil. Materials and Methods: HPV-DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction from cervicovaginal material collected with cervical brush from 167 pregnant women who answered a questionnaire with sociodemographic, behavioral and reproductive data. Results: HPV genital infection prevalence was 17.36%. Single pregnant women had four times higher chances of HPV infection than married pregnant women (OR = 4.03; p = 0.0046). Primigravidas had higher infection prevalence (29.03%), statistically significant (OR = 3.42; p = 0.001). Conclusion: With these results it is possible to conclude that pregnant women who are more susceptible to HPV infection are young women, pregnant for the first time, and in unstable marital relationships, which shows the need to combat HPV infection by implanting or expanding sexual education and family planning programs focused on young people, in addition to expanding the continued anti-HPV vaccination programs.