PREVALENCE OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS INFECTION FROM CERVIX OF WOMEN ATTENDING SELECTED HOSPITALS IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical Cancer is the second most common cancer caused by the persistent 
infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). A high rate of infection has been recorded 
worldwide among which Nigeria is inclusive.  
Aim: This study was aimed at detecting the prevalence of HPV infection among women and 
identifying socio demographic and risk factors associated with infection in the study area.  
Methods: The study was a hospital based, where cervical swab samples were randomly collected 
from women seen at the general outpatient department (G.O.P.D) and the gynaecology department 
of selected hospitals within the Federal Capital Territory.  
Results: A total of five hundred and one (501) consenting women were tested using Enzyme 
Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) after obtaining signed consent and demographic data from 
each participant using questionnaires. The Chi Square test was used to determine the relationship 
of risk factors with the rate of infection statistically using IBM SPSS version 23 software package. 
The prevalence of HPV infection in this study among participants with mean age 35.90 ± 8.40 was 
10.98%. Women who participated were within the age of 15 to 64 years. Demographic data and 
risk factors such as Age group (ᵡ2= 9.508, P = 0.050), Educational Status (ᵡ2 = 55.909, P = 0.000), 
Marital Status (ᵡ2 = 15.390, P = 0.000), HIV Status (ᵡ2 = 11.871, P = 0.001) and Number of sexual 
Partners (ᵡ2 = 6.252, P = 0.012) were found to have significant association with HPV infection 
statistically.  
Conclusion: The prevalence of the HPV in this study exposes the level of the burden of HPV 
infection in the study area which justifies the need to increase the level of surveillance on females 
at risk of infection in Nigeria.