A recent study conducted by researchers at the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Lafia has found that marital status does not significantly influence the risk of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection or cervical dysplasia among Nigerian women. The study, which involved 75 women aged 18 and above, used various screening methods, including Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), Pap smear, and HPV testing.
The results showed that 10.7% of the participants had cervical dysplasia, while 12% tested positive for HPV infection. Although married women recorded a slightly higher prevalence of cervical dysplasia at 11.5%, compared to 7.7% among single women, the difference was not statistically significant. Similarly, HPV infection was marginally higher among single women at 14.3%, compared to 11.5% among married participants.
The study’s findings suggest that behavioral and biological factors play a stronger role in disease transmission among women, rather than marital status. The researchers expressed concern that 86.7% of the respondents had never undergone cervical cancer screening before participating in the study, highlighting a significant gap in awareness and access to preventive reproductive health services.
The study identified several risk factors, including early sexual debut, previous sexually transmitted infections, multiple sexual partners, high parity, polygamous marriages, and HIV positivity. Notably, 37.5% of women with cervical dysplasia also tested positive for high-risk HPV strains, reinforcing the established link with cervical cancer development.
The researchers are calling for expanded HPV-based screening, routine checks for sexually active women, and wider vaccination rollout to reduce Nigeria’s cervical cancer burden. They also emphasized the need for sustained public awareness to prevent avoidable cervical cancer deaths among women. The study’s findings align with other Nigerian studies showing that HPV infection cuts across marital groups, highlighting the importance of prioritizing screening uptake to prevent cervical cancer.
Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest cervical cancer burden globally, despite the disease being largely preventable through effective vaccination programs, early detection, and improved access to screening services. The study’s findings underscore the need for a coordinated national response to address the gaps in awareness, access, and screening services to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer among Nigerian women.
