The Prevalence And Predictors Of Human Papilloma Virus Infection Of The Cervix At A University Teaching Hospital In Northern Nigeria.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and predictors of HumanPapilloma Virus (HPV) Infection of the cervix.Method: The subjects were 450 randomly selected sexually active women attending the antenatal,postnatal, gynaecology and family planning clinics in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecologyof the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria between April 2001 to May 2002. The PapSmear of these patients were examined microscopically for evidence of HPV Infection. Aquestionnaire assessing various socio-demographic characteristics of the patients were administered.Result: The prevalence rate of HPV was 10.7%. The peak age-specific prevalence of 11.7%occurred in the 15-19 years age group. There were significant associations between the occurrence ofHPV and multiple sexual partners, coital frequency, multiparity, contraceptive use, and marital status,Low socio-economic status abnormal vaginal discharge, irregular menstruation, postcoital andpostmenopausal bleeding.Conclusion: It is recommended that all sexually active women including teenagers should bescreened for cervical Human Papilloma Virus infection in organized systematic programme equippedwith a good call and recall system. There is therefore a need to move emphasis from the currentpractice of opportunistic screening to a systematic screening of the whole population at risk despitecost implications.