The Burden of Human Papillomavirus Infections Among Women in Nigeria: A Review Update

Abstract

Human Papillomavirus has been long implicated as a necessary cause of cervical cancer in which 80% of the disease burden occurs in developing countries where organized cytology based programmes have not been feasible. In Nigeria, it is estimated that 14,089 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually. This review, selected publications on HPV related cervical cancer across Nigeria where proper quality controlled molecular methods were used for diagnosis. Different genotypes of high risk HPV have been detected with variations across populations. HPV types found associated with women in Nigeria included types; 16,18,31,33,35,52,56 and 68 in disproportionate distribution with cases of multiple infections. There is a need for more population based studies to ascertain specific HPV genotypes common to specific population and the need for the development of multivalent therapeutic vaccines over the present prophylactic bivalent or quadrivalent vaccines which does not prevent against all oncogenic HPV genotypes.