Objective: The present study was conducted with the objective of determining the incidence of patients with human papillomavirus infection with unknown cytology using the polymerase chain reaction technique in a hospital in northern Peru. Methods: DNA was extracted from cervical citobrush samples using the Salting Out method. The DNA that was extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction technique using primers MY09 and MY11. Results: The samples were analyzed in 243 patients; the average age was 44 years. using the polymerase chain reaction technique, 13 patients (5.35 %) were found with a positive result for the presence of human papillomavirus, this as a part of a screening program in a Level III hospital in northern Peru. Conclusions: The incidence of human papillomavirus was low. There was no association between educational level, marital status, age, first sexual intercourse and human papillomavirus infection. No association was found between the number of sexual partners and human papillomavirus infection.