Prevalence of Anti-Human Papillomavirus IgG Antibody among Students of a Private Tertiary Institution in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is an oncogenic sexually transmitted virus. It is the leading cause of cervical cancer, penile, vulva, vaginal and anal high-grade dysplasia. Infections are usually asymptomatic only to manifest after several years, implying that most adults with symptoms must have been infected at their young ages. The risky sexual behavior of subjects at ages 16-24 makes then vulnerable. Objectives: This study evaluates the prevalence of anti-human Papillomavirus IgG antibody among students of a tertiary institution in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Methods: One hundred and fifty (150) blood samples were collected from consenting students (100 females and 50 males) age 16-24 in Ado-Ekiti. A structured questionnaire was administered concurrently. Sera were assayed using the anti-HPV-IgG antibody ELISA Kit (Melsin Medical Co. Limited). Data was analyzed using Epi-Info 7.2 Version Software and Excel. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. Results: Sixty eight (45%) of the total subjects were seropositive for anti-HPV-IgG antibody. Twenty six (52%) males and 42 (41%) females were seropositive. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in seropositivity across the ages and among the gender. Fifty nine (60%) of sexually active subjects were seropositive for anti-HPV-IgG antibody (p˂0.05). Thirty five (97%) non-condom users were seropositive (p<0.05) while fifty four (75%) of subjects who have had unprotected sex at one point in their lives were seropositive (p< 0.05). Only three of the subjects had been vaccinated. Conclusion: The high rate of seropositivity to anti-HPV-IgG antibody in the population is a cardinal pointer to high rate of exposure to HPV and a likely exposure to the high-risk serotype.