Sex differences in the prevalence of high-risk oral and anal human papillomavirus infections among heterosexually active populations in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Purpose: To determine sex differences in the prevalence of oral and anal high-risk HPV infections among heterosexually active males and females in Ibadan. Methods: This was a secondary analysis from the Sexual Behavior and HPV Infections in Nigerians in Ibadan (SHINI) study that involved sexually active males and females aged 18-45 years. After a face-to-face interview, samples were collected from the mouth, cervix, vulva, and anus by a sex-matched trained nurse. High-risk HPV (hrHPV) in oral or/and anal sites were primary outcome variables, profiled by Anyplex Results: A total of 625 females including 310 females in general population (FGP) and 315 female sex workers (FSWs) and 316 males were recruited. Oral hrHPV prevalence was higher among FGP and FSWs than among males (10.5% vs. 14.9% vs. 3.6%, Conclusion: Oral hrHPV, anal hrHPV, and hrHPV at both sites were more prevalent in females than in males in the heterosexually active population. These findings highlight the importance of developing targeted HPV prevention strategies that account for sex-specific risk factors and the potential biological underpinnings contributing to these disparities.