Prevalence and Risk Factors of High Risk Human Papillomavirus Infections among Women Attending Gynaecology Clinics in Kano, Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the most common female cancer in northern Nigeria, yet the pattern of infection with human papillomavirus, the principal aetiologic agent is unknown. This was a preliminary study conducted in two referral hospitals in order to establish base-line data on the prevalence and risk factors for the infection in Kano state, Nigeria. Fifty (50) randomly selected women aged 18 years and above were recruited from gynaecology clinics in Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano teaching Hospital. Relevant sexual and socio-demographic information were obtained from each subject using a questionnaire. Exfoliated cervical cells were harvested and processed using Polymerase Chain Reaction to identify the DNAs of high-risk HPV types 16 and 18. The prevalence rate of HPV infection was 76% [(38/50) at 95% CI=61.8-86.9] with 60.5% (23/38) having co-infections with both HPV type 16 and 18. Risk factors of the infection include low literacy level; living in rural settlements; low parity; early menarche (<15 years of age); early onset of first sexual intercourse (≤16 years of age) and multiple sexual partners. There was however, no statistically significant association between oral contraceptive usage and acquisition of the infections. Findings of this study suggest a high prevalence of HPV types 16 and 18 among women attending gynaecology clinic in Kano and thus called for more elaborate community based study in order to establish the magnitude of the problem from wider perspective.

Seroprevalence of human papillomavirus immunoglobulin G antibodies among women presenting at the reproductive health clinic of a university teaching hospital in Nigeria

“…This agrees with previous reports of an increased HPV among women who indulge in sexual activity at an early age 25,30,32,41. Acquisition of HPV infection is strongly associated with sexual behavior.…”

“…Women with high parity had the least prevalence, as previously reported 39. Low parity was recently reported to be a significant risk factor for acquisition of HPV in northern Nigeria 30. In contrast, Okolo et al,25 in southern Nigeria, observed that the prevalence of HPV increases with increasing parity.…”

Prevalence of and Associated Risk Factors for High Risk Human Papillomavirus among Sexually Active Women, Swaziland

“…HPV16 and 18 are associated with approximately 71% of all cases of CC, and HPV45 is associated with approximately 6% of additional cases of CC [5]. The prevalence of HPV infection in women varies greatly in the African continent where some of the highest prevalences are found [6]. Both hr-HPV and HIV are sexually transmitted infectious agents, and infection by one of the viruses may accelerate transmission of the other [7].…”

Reproductive and Lifestyle Characteristics of Kenyan Women Presenting With Precancerous Cervical Lesions: A Hospital-Based Case–Control Study

“…[1][2][3] In Kenya, over 2000 cervical cancer cases are diagnosed per 100,000 women annually, resulting in an estimated 8,600 deaths in the country each year. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Cervical intraepithelial lesions are the precancerous condition of the cervix, which if left untreated, can develop to cervical cancer. These lesions are characterised by abnormal cellular morphology and are detectable by microscopic examination of cervical epithelial cells obtained through Pap smears.…”