THE PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS INFECTION OF THE CERVIX AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI TEACHING HOSPITAL, MAIDUGURI

Abstract

Four hundred and fifty randomly selected patients were
screened for cervical human papilloma virus (HPV) infection
using cervical cytology while attending various clinics at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of
Maiduguri teaching Hospital, Maiduguri from April 2001 to
May 2002. The prevalence rate of HPV was 10.7%. The peak
age-specific prevalence of 11.7% occurred in the 15-19 years
age group. Those in the 20-29 years age range accounted for 66.7% of the cases.
There were significant associations between the
occurrence of HPV and multiple sexual partners, coital
frequency, multiparty, contraceptive use, marital status, low
socio economic status, abnormal vaginal discharge, irregular menstruation, postcoital and postmenopausal bleeding.
It is recommended that all sexually active women,
including teenagers, should be screened for cervical human
papilloma virus infection in an organized systemative
programme equipped with a good call and recall system. There
is therefore a need to move emphasis from the current practice
of opportunistic screening to a systematic screening of the
whole population at risk despite cost implications.

THE PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS INFECTION OF THE CERVIX AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI TEACHING HOSPITAL, MAIDUGURI