Yakubu Abubakar Ajang

University of Jos,
Nigeria

Abstract Title: Detection of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection and Risk of Cervical Cancer among HIV-positive Women on Antiretroviral Therapy in North-Central Nigeria

Biography:

Yakubu, Abubakar Ajang, obtained his PhD from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2024. He is a lecturer with over 10 years of experience in teaching and research in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Jos, and has over 15 publications in both local and international journals, and has supervised over 30 undergraduate and postgraduate students. He has also attended various academic conferences and presented different papers from his work on viruses and cancers. His area of interest is Virology and Immunology, and a member of the Nigerian Society of Microbiology and the African Virologists Network.

Research Interest:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) associated with cervical, uterine, and anogenital cancers. Persistent infection with HPV is associated with abnormal cervical cells, which can develop into cervical cancer if left untreated. A hospital-based study of HIV-infected women in Northcentral Nigeria was conducted between November 2018 and November 2020. Ethical approval was obtained from Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, and informed consent to participate in the research was also obtained from each participant. HIV status confirmation was first done, followed by cytology testing via the Pap smear procedure to detect any precancerous/malignant changes in the cervix. Subsequent HPV detection used ELISA and PCR for HPV genotypes 16 and 18, while CD4+ cell counts and viral load estimations were performed using flow cytometry and nucleic acid amplification techniques, respectively. Questionnaires were administered to obtain information on biodata, risk factors, and clinical presentations of cervical cancer. The overall prevalence of HPV was 28%. More HPV infection (31.9%) occurred in women with low CD4+ count (0-200 cells/mm3), and also the highest (50.0%) among women with the highest HIV viral load (>100 copies/mL). The major risk factors in this population include multiple sexual partners, early age of sexual debut, low condom usage, and co-infection with other STIs. In conclusion, this study identified a high HPV prevalence, low CD4+ counts, and co-infection with other STIs in this population. We recommend improved sexual behaviours and boosting immune status to minimize the progression of cervical abnormality to cervical cancer.