The prevalence of cervical HPV and cytological abnormalities in association with reproductive factors of rural Nigerian women.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) and cytological abnormalities while addressing demographic and reproductive variables in a sample of rural Nigerian patients.


METHODS
In March 2004, a medical project was conducted in Okene, Nigeria. The obstetrics/gynecology team collected demographics of 231 patients and 199 ThinPrep Pap smears (Cytyc, Marlborough, MA), which were analyzed cytologically and for the presence of HPV DNA.


RESULTS
Of 231 patients (mean age 32.2), 76% had seen a physician four times or less. From 199 Pap smears performed, 21.6% had high-risk (HR) HPV, low-risk (LR) HPV, or both. HR HPV was present in 16.6% of the women. There were 13 (6.5%) abnormal Pap smears, of which 9 (4.5%) had atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), 1 (0.5%) had atypical glandular cells (AGC), 2 (1%) had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), and 1 (0.5%) had a high-grade SIL (HSIL). Other findings were Trichomonas vaginalis in 18 patients (9%) and Candida in 27 patients (13.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of cervical HPV and SIL in Okene, Nigeria, is consistent with reports from other African regions. Improved access to healthcare and cervical cancer screening programs may help to decrease transmission of HPV and subsequent cervical cancer in underprivileged areas.
Schnatz
Peter F
PF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut 06102, USA. pschnat@harthosp.org
Markelova
Natalia V
NV
Holmes
Danielle
D
Mandavilli
Srinivas R
SR
O'Sullivan
David M
DM
D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods*; D016387:Women's Health; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*