Cervical cancer and its control in Nigeria : challenges and the way forward
Document type: mthesis
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Abstract:
Cervical cancer (CC) is a major public health problem. Globally 1.4 million women are living with the disease and 7 million people may have precancerous changes. Eighty percent of the 493,000 annual new cases and 80-85% of annual deaths from cervical cancer occur in Low Income Countries (LIC) having less than 5% of the global cancer resources. In Nigeria, the most populous African country 9,922 cases are diagnosed annually and 8,030 die. These figures are expected to increase by about 25% within 10 years. The incidence rate ranging from 25 per 100,000 to 30 per 100,000 women is 5-6 times higher than incidence in High Income Countries. The affected women come with advanced disease which poses great challenge to the struggling health system. Cervical cancer now considered a “Sexually Transmitted disease” and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the necessary cause. Nigerian women of all ages have a high prevalence HPV of 26.3%. This is due to many determinants and co-factors like early sexual debut, multiple sex partners, low condom use, high parity, high incidence of other Sexually Transmitted Infections including HIV, poverty, illiteracy, micronutrient deficiency, poor hygiene and absence of a National prevention program. Underlying all these is the low status of Nigerian women which limits access to health. Control of CC in Nigeria may contribute to achieving four out of the eight Millennium Development Goals. The disease is preventable through health promotion, sexual risk reduction and screening procedures followed by treatment of precancer using simple out-patient procedures. The cervical cytology-based population screening using Papanicolaous’ smear proven to be effective in High Income Countries (HIC) is currently not effective or feasible in Nigeria due to insufficient human and material resources. Alternatives being proposed include Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA), HPV DNA testing, less frequent smears and HPV vaccination. These options need to be explored for Nigeria, hence the need for a National policy and guidelines on CC control.
Authors:
Kolawole, A.O.
Country:
Nigeria
Category:
Research
Department:
Development Policy & Practice
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Keywords:
disease prevention and control
,
reproductive health
,
health services
Language:
eng
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
PAGE:
viii, 77
Year:
2008
Region:
West Africa
Right:
© 2008 Kolawole
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Title:
Cervical cancer and its control in Nigeria : challenges and the way forward
Training:
Master of Public Health / International Course in Health Development (ICHD)