- Results showed that 34 per cent of women tested were infected with HPV
- HPV16 and HPV18—can lead to cervical cancer and has also been linked to cancers of the vulva
- The study also identified behavioural and demographic risk factors associated with infection
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has unveiled findings from a major nationwide study showing a worrying prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among Nigerian women, raising renewed calls for expanded vaccination and public health education.
Eko Hot Blog gatherd that the study, led by Dr. Chika K. Onwuamah, Deputy Director (Research) at NIMR, examined HPV infection patterns across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones between January 2015 and December 2019.
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Results showed that 34 per cent of women tested were infected with HPV, with 27 per cent carrying high-risk strains associated with cervical cancer and other malignancies.
HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses. While many types are harmless and resolve on their own, persistent infection with high-risk strains—particularly HPV16 and HPV18—can lead to cervical cancer and has also been linked to cancers of the vulva, vagina, throat, anus and penis.
According to the study, awareness and vaccine uptake remain critically low. Only 27 per cent of respondents knew that HPV infection could be prevented through vaccination, and just six per cent reported having received the vaccine.
The findings highlight a significant gap in public knowledge and preventive healthcare access.
“Our findings demonstrate that high-risk HPV strains are prevalent among Nigerian women and contribute significantly to cervical cancer risk,” Dr. Onwuamah said.
“There is an urgent need to strengthen vaccination programmes and intensify public awareness campaigns, particularly among vulnerable groups.”
The research team adopted both clinician-collected sampling and poster-guided self-sampling methods to evaluate HPV infection.
Notably, self-collected samples recorded 89.8 per cent sensitivity and 98.2 per cent specificity, with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 96.3 per cent.
Researchers say this method could significantly expand screening coverage, especially in communities where cultural or logistical barriers limit hospital-based testing.
The study also identified behavioural and demographic risk factors associated with infection. Women who consumed alcohol and smoked were found to be twice as likely to contract HPV compared to those who did neither.
Higher infection rates were also recorded among pregnant women and female commercial sex workers, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
Further laboratory analysis revealed that among women diagnosed with cervical cancer, 42 per cent were infected with HPV16, six per cent with HPV18, and 24 per cent with other high-risk strains not fully covered by existing vaccines.
This finding suggests potential gaps in vaccine protection and reinforces the call for broader-spectrum HPV vaccines within Nigeria’s immunisation framework.
Beyond HPV, NIMR used the media briefing to draw attention to another mounting public health concern: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Senior Research Scientist and Medical Microbiologist, Dr. Emelda Chukwu, warned that drug resistance is rapidly emerging as one of Nigeria’s most serious yet underestimated health threats.
Dr. Chukwu explained that antimicrobial resistance does not occur in isolation but develops and spreads across human, animal and environmental systems, reflecting the interconnected nature of modern public health challenges.
She stressed the importance of adopting a “One Health” approach that integrates multiple sectors in combating the problem.
As part of its response strategy, NIMR has established laboratory-based AMR surveillance using sentinel sites in Lagos State.
Structured assessments conducted in four healthcare facilities revealed alarming resistance levels to third-generation cephalosporins—a widely used class of antibiotics critical for treating severe infections.
The findings point to the urgent need for routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the establishment of standardised monitoring systems, particularly in resource-constrained settings where diagnostic capabilities are limited.
Through its surveillance programme, NIMR has been able to identify risk factors driving resistance trends, analyse genetic variations in circulating bacterial strains, and develop hospital-specific antibiograms to guide empirical treatment decisions.
These efforts provide baseline data supporting Nigeria’s National Action Plan (NAP 2.0) on antimicrobial resistance.
In addition to hospital-based surveillance, the institute has expanded its monitoring efforts to the environment. Wastewater surveillance studies conducted in Lagos assessed samples for SARS-CoV-2 and antimicrobial-resistant organisms. This approach not only provided early indicators of COVID-19 transmission patterns but also detected resistant bacteria in wastewater systems.
Significantly, the detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 in nine local government areas prompted a policy advisory to the Lagos State Government, strengthening preparedness against potential cholera outbreaks. Dr. Chukwu described wastewater surveillance as a cost-effective early warning system, particularly valuable in densely populated urban areas.
Recognising that surveillance alone is insufficient, NIMR has also prioritised antimicrobial stewardship programmes nationwide. Baseline studies assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare workers and the public revealed widespread gaps in antibiotic prescribing behaviour and limited public understanding of appropriate antibiotic use.
These findings informed the development of targeted capacity-building workshops, professional training sessions, facility-level treatment guidelines, and public engagement campaigns, including activities during World AMR Awareness Week.
Director-General of NIMR, Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa, described antimicrobial resistance as not only a medical concern but also a national development challenge.
“Antimicrobial resistance threatens to reverse decades of medical progress,” he said. “At NIMR, we are committed to generating the scientific evidence needed to guide policy decisions, strengthen surveillance systems and safeguard the health of Nigerians.”
He called for sustained government investment and multisectoral collaboration, noting that addressing AMR requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
As Nigeria advances implementation of its National Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance, NIMR says its integrated research, surveillance, environmental monitoring and stewardship initiatives place the institute at the forefront of evidence-based strategies aimed at protecting public health and strengthening national health security.
The combined findings on HPV prevalence and antimicrobial resistance underscore the growing need for preventive healthcare, improved public awareness, expanded vaccination coverage, and stronger health system coordination to tackle emerging threats facing Nigerian communities.
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