Prevalence and regional variation of cervical cancer in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2010–2025).

Abstract

e17519 Background: Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Despite its preventability, evidence on the national and regional burden of cervical cancer in Nigeria remains fragmented and highly variable. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of cervical cancer in Nigeria and examine regional variations across the country’s geopolitical zones. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Web of Science CAB International, Embase, and Google Scholar for observational studies published between January 2010 and December 2025 that reported cervical cancer prevalence in Nigeria. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q and I² statistics. Subgroup analyses were conducted by geopolitical zone. Robustness was evaluated through leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger’s regression test. Results: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, representing all six geopolitical zones. Individual prevalence estimates ranged from 1.25% to 62.7%. The pooled prevalence of cervical cancer was 12% (95% CI: 8–19%), with very high heterogeneity (I² = 98.7%, p < 0.0001). Higher pooled prevalence estimates were observed in the South-South and South-East zones, while lower estimates were seen in northern regions. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated stable pooled estimates (range: 11%–14%) with no single study exerting undue influence. There was no evidence of publication bias (Egger’s test: p = 0.855). Conclusions: Cervical cancer prevalence in Nigeria remains high, with marked regional disparities and substantial heterogeneity driven by differences in study setting, screening coverage, and healthcare access. These findings highlight persistent gaps in prevention, early detection, and surveillance. Scaling up HPV vaccination, expanding equitable screening programs, and strengthening population-based cancer registries are urgently needed to support progress toward the WHO cervical cancer elimination targets.