Background: Disparities in cervical screening result in disproportionate cervical cancer burdens in populations. This study assessed cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection prevalence in a rural northeast Nigeria community with low access to cervical screening. Methodology: A community health outreach was conducted at a primary healthcare facility in Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria. The women who wished to and consented to undergo gynaecological consultations were non-randomly enrolled on the study and provided their sociodemographic data and cervical specimens (Pap smear and cytobrush exfoliates in viral transport media) for the study. These were analysed cytologically and for the presence of HPV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Results: Of 62 women screened (mean age 38.5 ± 9.8 years), 34 (54.8%) tested positive for HPV DNA (95% confidence interval = 43-67%). Among these positive cases, 19 had no intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM), 8 were designated atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance (ASCUS), and 6 showed low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). In contrast, one case was high-grade SIL (HSIL). Thirty single infections were seen, HPV 16 being the commonest (18 cases), followed by HPV 18 (9 cases), while non-16, non-18 genotypes (genotypes 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 67, 68), collectively termed “Others”, accounted for 3 cases. Coinfections among different genotype classes (genotypes 16, 18 and Others) occurred in 4 additional cases. Most of the women had a primary education or higher (43; 69.4%), were married (53; 85.5%), and were multiparous (52; 83.9%). However, the majority had not heard about cervical cancer (35; 56.5%), while 60 (96.8%) women had never been screened previously. Conclusions: The results suggest a high prevalence of cervical HR-HPV and SIL in Azare. Improved public enlightenment and access to cervical cancer screening services may help to decrease transmission of HPV and subsequent cervical cancer in the population.
Ezenkwa et al. (Wed,) studied this question.