title: Seroprevalence of human papillomavirus immunoglobulin G antibodies among women presenting at the reproductive health clinic of a university teaching hospital in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of 90%-95% of squamous cell cancers. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV can lead to development of precancerous lesions of the cervix in 5%-10% of infected women, and can progress to invasive cervical cancer 15-20 years later. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of HPV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies among women of reproductive age attending a reproductive health clinic at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was descriptive, cross-sectional, and experimental, combining the use of a structured questionnaire and analysis of serum samples obtained from 350 consecutive consenting women. The serum samples were analyzed for IgG antibodies to HPV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a seroprevalence of 42.9% (150/350) for IgG antibodies to HPV in these women. Women aged 45-49 years and those who had their sexual debut aged 20-23 years had the highest HPV seroprevalence, ie, 50% (57/114) and 51.1% (46/90), respectively. Presence of antibodies varied according to sociodemographic factors, but was significantly associated with educational status, tribe, and religion (P<0.05). Human papillomavirus infection was not significantly associated with the reproductive characteristics and sexual behavior of the women. Antibodies to HPV were detected in 50.0% (9/18) of women with a family history of cervical cancer and in 30.8% (4/13) of those with a history or signs of WHIM (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, immunodeficiency, myelokathexis) syndrome as a genetic disorder (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are needed to determine the HPV serotypes and evaluate the risk of natural development of HPV-related malignancies among women in the study area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aminu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Jz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gwafan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Hi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inabo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oguntayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ee
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ella
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koledade
keywords: Nigeria; human papillomavirus; immunoglobulin G antibodies; seroprevalence; women