The Seroprevalence of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Types 6,11,16 and 18 among Women Attending Cervical Screening (Pap Smear) Service in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria

The seroprevalence of the causative agent of cervical cancer: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) types in any region is essential for the effective prevention and control of cervical cancer in that region, since there are over 100 types of HPV with high and low risk types. In this study the occurrence of HPV types 6, 11, and 16 & 18 were studied among women attending cervical screening (Pap smear) center in a Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Nigeria. Consents were obtained and blood samples were aseptically collected and processed for HPV assay using HPV IgG ELISA kits from Cusabio Co. LTD Germany. The results showed that out of 360 women aged between 20 years and 63 years with a mean age of 34±9 years who came for Pap smear screening, only 25% (90) gave consent for HPV testing and participated in the study. The overall result showed that 71.1% (64) were positive and 28.9% (26) were negative. The high risk HPV16 and HPV 18 had the prevalence of 22.2% and 21.2% respectively, while the low risk HPV 6,11, had 27.8%. We concluded that there is higher seroprevalence of low risk HPV types 6,11 than high risk HPV types 16,18; and low acceptance of HPV testing in Abakaliki, southeastern Nigeria (25%). We recommend an urgent Medical education and sensitization of women in this region about the risk factors for HPV transmission and the need to participate in HPV testing services provided by the teaching hospital in order to prevent the transmission of HPV and thereby control cervical cancer.