Prevalence of Cervical Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection Among Women in Some Areas of North-central Nigeria

Zakka, Abigail W.; Ayolabi, Christianah I.; Olusola, Babatunde A.

doi:10.21608/eajbsg.2023.327002

Prevalence of Cervical Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection Among Women in Some Areas of North-central Nigeria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Microbiology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

² Department of Microbiology, University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.

³ Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

10.21608/eajbsg.2023.327002

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection varies worldwide with Sub-Saharan Africa having the highest prevalence (12.0%) and Nigeria having the highest prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the conventional assay for HPV detection using type-specific primers that allow the accurate typing of HPV infections. The poor diagnosis of HPV infection and its associated risk factors in Nigeria have led to inadequate records and the distribution of HPV genotypes hence, the spread of the infection/cervical cancer. There is a need to fight cervical cancer through HPV testing using methods that allow particular typing of the HPV infections and are sensitive to detecting high-risk HPV genotypes as an alternative to cytology. Objectives: Consequent to this, the study is aimed at determining the prevalence of cervical HPV infections and its associated risk factors among women in some parts of North-central Nigeria. Method: Cervical swab samples were collected from 250 women who consented and attended cervical cancer screening units of three tertiary health institutions in Plateau and Nasarawa States and Abuja, Nigeria. Socio-demographic and risk factor information was obtained through structured questionnaires while HPV DNA was detected using Nested PCR. Result: An HPV prevalence of 82.6% was revealed in Nasarawa State, 30.9% in Plateau State and 30.3% in Abuja. The HPV prevalence observed shows increased virus transmission in Northcentral Nigeria. Demographic/ risk factors such as age (p=0.02; r=0.37), marital status (p=0.01; r= 0.45), age at first pregnancy (p= 0.04; r= 0.27), educational status (p=0.04; r=0.56), employment status (p=0.02; r=0.37), use of contraceptives (p=0.02; r=0.43) and history of STI (p=0.01; r= 0.35) were significantly associated with HPV infection. Conclusion: This study observed a high prevalence of HPV infection and its associated risk factors in all three study locations. Therefore, public health education and campaigns about associated risk factors and cervical cancer screening are essential for preventing and controlling the Human papillomavirus (HPV).

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