Prevention of Cervical Cancer in Low-Resource African Settings

Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2022 Dec;49(4):771-781. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2022.08.008.

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer among women. Approximately 350,000 women die from cervical needlessly from cancer each year, and 85% of the global burden occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Disparities in the incidence and mortality between LMICs and industrialized countries can be attributed to differences in access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening and treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) is leading a renewed international effort to reduce the global burden of cervical cancer. In this article, we discuss recommendations for HPV vaccination, primary HPV screening, and treatment of precancerous lesions.

Keywords: Africa; Cervical cancer prevention; Cervical cancer screening; HPV; Human papillomavirus; LMICs; Low- and middle-income countries.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cervix Uteri
  • Early Detection of Cancer
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening
  • Papillomavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Papillomavirus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Papillomavirus Infections* / prevention & control
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines* / therapeutic use
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / prevention & control
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Papillomavirus Vaccines