Abstract
Cervical cancer is one of the biggest public health challenges in developing countries. According to the Global Cancer Observation in 2022, Burkina Faso recorded 988 new cases, with 775 deaths. Caused mainly by the human papillomavirus (HPV), this cancer is a heavy burden on our populations. The aim of this review was to assess the current state of human papillomavirus infections and cervical cancer prevention among sexually active women in Burkina Faso. Original studies were extracted from PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, semanticscholar, Hinari and Science Direct using appropriate MeSH terms. Results were extracted and reviewed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyse method (PRISMA). Twenty-four studies from three regions of Burkina Faso were included in the systematic review, with most of the articles from the “Centre” region. Out of a total of 5480 participants for the pooled analyses, the review showed a prevalence of HPV, varying according to population type and region and ranging from 20.6% to 87.2%. In contrast, the overall prevalence of HPV 16 and 18 infections were low compared to the global trend. With a low screening rate, the prevalence of cancerous lesions ranged from 1.5% to 15.42%. The level of knowledge was lower among rural than urban residents. Bivalent and quadrivalent vaccines had low coverage for the genotypes identified. In the fight against cervical cancer in Burkina, concerted efforts are needed to strengthen screening programs, increase HPV vaccination coverage, and raise public awareness. Large-scale national studies are needed to map HPV genotypes in order to make appropriate decisions for cervical cancer control.