The findings, disclosed in Abuja by a Biomedical Laboratory Scientist, Mr Odeh Agabi, underscore the need for broader, more inclusive cervical cancer screening and prevention strategies across the country. The study, titled “Predictive Roles of Marital Status in Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Dysplasia,” assessed 75 women aged 18 years and above through visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), Pap smear, and HPV testing.
According to the results, 10.7 per cent of participants were diagnosed with cervical dysplasia, while 12 per cent tested positive for HPV infection during the hospital-based screening exercise conducted in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
A breakdown of the data showed only marginal differences between marital groups. Married women recorded a slightly higher prevalence of cervical dysplasia at 11.5 per cent, compared with 7.7 per cent among single women. Conversely, HPV infection was somewhat higher among single women at 14.3 per cent, compared with 11.5 per cent among married participants. Researchers noted that these variations were not statistically significant.
Agabi explained that further statistical analysis confirmed marital status was not a reliable predictor of either HPV infection or cervical dysplasia, suggesting that behavioural and biological factors play a more decisive role in disease transmission and progression.
The study also raised concerns about low screening uptake, revealing that 86.7 per cent of the women surveyed had never undergone cervical cancer screening prior to the exercise. This, according to the researchers, highlights persistent gaps in awareness, access, and utilisation of preventive reproductive health services in Nigeria.
Several risk factors were identified among participants, including early sexual debut, history of sexually transmitted infections, multiple sexual partners, high parity, polygamous marital settings, and HIV positivity. Notably, 37.5 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical dysplasia also tested positive for high-risk HPV strains, reinforcing the established link between HPV infection and cervical cancer development.
Agabi called for the expansion of HPV-based screening programmes, routine checks for sexually active women, wider HPV vaccination coverage, and sustained public awareness campaigns to curb Nigeria’s cervical cancer burden.
He noted that the findings are consistent with other Nigerian studies showing that HPV infection cuts across all marital groups. While some studies, particularly in southern Nigeria, have reported slightly higher HPV prevalence among single, widowed, or divorced women, experts say such variations do not alter the broader trend of widespread exposure across marital categories.
Health experts have urged policymakers to prioritise nationwide screening and vaccination initiatives, stressing that cervical cancer prevention efforts must target all sexually active women, regardless of marital status.
Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest cervical cancer burden globally, despite the disease being largely preventable through effective vaccination, early detection, sustained awareness, and improved access to screening services.