A study by researchers at Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State, has found that marital status does not significantly influence the risk of Human Papillomavirus infection or cervical dysplasia among Nigerian women.
Mr Odeh Agabi, a Biomedical Laboratory Scientist, Odeh Agabi, disclosed the findings on Tuesday in Abuja, highlighting implications for cervical cancer screening practices nationwide and policy.
The study, titled, “Predictive Roles of Marital Status in Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Dysplasia,” involved 75 women aged 18 years and above screened using VIA, Pap smear, and HPV testing.
Mr Agabi said results showed 10.7 per cent of participants had cervical dysplasia, while 12 per cent tested positive for HPV infection during the hospital-based screening exercise conducted in Lafia.
He noted that married women recorded slightly higher cervical dysplasia prevalence at 11.5 per cent, compared with 7.7 per cent among single women surveyed during the cross-sectional hospital screening study exercise.
He said HPV infection was marginally higher among single women at 14.3 per cent, compared with 11.5 per cent among married participants, indicating similar exposure risks across marital categories nationwide overall.
Mr Agabi said statistical analysis showed marital status was not a significant predictor of HPV infection or cervical dysplasia, suggesting behavioural and biological factors play stronger roles in disease transmission among women nationwide studied.
He expressed concern that 86.7 per cent of respondents had never undergone cervical cancer screening before participating, highlighting major gaps in awareness and access to preventive reproductive health services nationwide today.
The study identified risk factors including early sexual debut, previous sexually transmitted infections, multiple sexual partners, high parity, polygamous marriages, and HIV positivity among some participants within the surveyed population group.
Mr Agabi said 37.5 per cent of women with cervical dysplasia also tested positive for high-risk HPV strains, reinforcing the established link with cervical cancer development documented extensively in medical literature globally.
He called for expanded HPV-based screening, routine checks for sexually active women, wider vaccination rollout, and sustained public awareness to reduce Nigeria’s cervical cancer burden through coordinated national health interventions nationwide.
The expert noted the findings aligned with other Nigerian studies showing HPV infection cuts across marital groups, urging policymakers to prioritise screening uptake to prevent avoidable cervical cancer deaths among women nationwide.
A Southern Nigeria study reported slightly higher HPV prevalence among single, widowed or divorced women, but researchers said variations did not alter the broader trend of HPV exposure across marital categories.
Experts said the findings aligned with the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia study, stressing that cervical cancer prevention strategies should target all sexually active women through regular screening and HPV vaccination.
Nigeria remains among countries with the highest cervical cancer burden globally, despite he disease being largely preventable through effective vaccination programmes, early detection, sustained awareness, and improved access to screening services nationwide.
(NAN)