Prevalence and distribution of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus infection in a rural community of Edo State, Nigeria

[1]Okoeguale, J., *[2]Samuel, S. O., [3]Amadi, S. C., 1Njoku, A., and 1Okome, G. B. O.

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

2Department of Medical Microbiology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: samuelolowo2003@gmail.com

Abstract:

Background: Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are non-enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses and most women in the world are probably infected with at least one type of the virus during their sexual life. Oncogenic HPVs are predominantly sexually-transmitted pathogens and several high-risk types are associated with nearly all cases of cervical cancer worldwide. In view of paucity of data on the prevalence and distribution of various high risk HPV subtypes, this study was carried out to provide evidence based local data for cervical cancer preventive programs within this region.

Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 145 consenting women living in Ugbegun rural community of Edo central senatorial district, Edo State, Nigeria. Informed consent of each participant was obtained and socio-demographic information collected through interviewer-administered collection tool. Cervical swab sample was collected using the female cervical cell collection kit for HPV DNA testing. HPV DNA was detected by the Hybribio 21 HPV Geno array test kit which uses polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and flow through hybridization assay. Summary statistics were presented as mean, standard deviation, median, frequency and proportions as appropriate using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Association of sociodemographic characteristics of the women with HPV prevalence was done using the ‘t’ test, with p value less than 0.5 considered statistical significance. Continue reading “Prevalence and distribution of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus infection in a rural community of Edo State, Nigeria”