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Cervical Cancer Rates Within the Underdeveloped World

Cervical Cancer RatesCervical cancer is defined as a malignant tumor in the lowermost part of a woman’s uterus. Many cancers do not have prevention tactics. However, cervical cancer is one of the few that does. Doctors can fend off this cancer by putting a stop to the human papillomavirus virus (HPV), the pathogen that causes the disease. The treatment is a simple vaccine most preteens receive around the age of 11 or 12, as well as screenings using Papanicolaou (Pap) smears. However, treatments are not as easy for women in the developing world to receive, causing cervical cancer rates in these areas to surpass those in higher-income countries. 

The Stats

According to the National Library of Medicine, cervical cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with 80% of cases located in the developing world. Approximately 190,000 women in low-and-middle-income countries die from this illness each year. Poorer countries lack access to information and awareness about the risks and development of cervical cancer. Women can also encounter major cost barriers that block them from getting proper screenings. For example, in Zambia, cervical cancer is the most common cancer in the country, with 65.5 cases per 100,000 women. It accounts for 23% of all cancer cases. Another example of this phenomenon is in Tanzania. In 2020, 9,770 cervical cancer cases were reported for every 100,000 women. Of these cases, 6,695 were fatal.

Not only do many underdeveloped countries lack knowledge and screenings for cervical cancer, some do not have access to the HPV vaccine. Places such as Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba have yet to implement this vital inoculation process because of cost restrictions.

Missions to Help

Several organizations work with underdeveloped countries to find ways to diminish the barriers that create high cervical cancer rates. In 2020, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) came together to create a new plan for reducing cervical cancer numbers in impoverished places. The project’s goal is to heighten national support and awareness to mobilize and expand resources for prevention, research, diagnosis and treatments. 

Also in 2020, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) created a three-pillar plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by the end of 2099. PAHO strives to make every country reach the following targets by 2030: 90% of girls vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, 70% of women having two high-precision screenings between ages 35 and 45 and 90% of diagnosed women receiving treatment.

How Everyone Can Help

According to the World Health Organization’s 2020 Cervical Cancer Elimination Modeling Consortium, cervical cancer rates are presumed to decrease by one-third of the current rate by 2030 through proper execution and continuous commitment to helping poorer countries fight against the disease. Findings show that if girls in low-and-middle-income countries receive HPV vaccinations at a young age, as well as screenings for cancer twice in their lifetime, cervical cancer rates will decrease by 89% in those areas. 

Fortunately, there are non-governmental organizations that help women suffering from cervical cancer, particularly in African countries. One example of this charity is the Elekta Foundation. Created in January of 2022, its main purpose is to educate and train professionals to build clinical capabilities in radiotherapy, develop tools to increase cancer care and create awareness and prevention tactics through local governments for African countries. Since the organization is fairly new, directors are still in the piloting process of their fundraising efforts in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. However, from the knowledge gained through this phase, the charity will be able to expand and give access to screenings, diagnostics and treatments all throughout Africa.

Ultimately, staying up to date with cancer-related news in developing countries can be potentially effective in amplifying their voices and addressing their challenges. Educating others about the situations in impoverished regions can also drive increased donations and potentially save lives. Therefore, advocating for the importance of cervical cancer prevention and raising awareness about ways to support the cause appears to be essential steps to actively participate in the cancer prevention movement.

– Nina Donlin
Photo: Unsplash

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Important Facts to Know About HPV in the Developing World

All You Need to Know About HPV in the Developing World
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are DNA viruses that infect skin or mucosal cells. Depending on the severity of the infection, HPV can lead to either cervical cancer and other head and neck cancers or low-grade cervical tissue changes and genital warts. Virtually all cervical cancer cases result from a sexually transmitted infection with HPV.

Cervical Cancer and HPV in the Developing World

Globally, cervical cancer is known as the second most common cancer among women, with about 500,000 new cases being diagnosed annually. Of the total deaths that occur due to cervical cancer each year, more than 80 percent are concentrated in developing countries.

Immunization coupled with regular screenings and consistent treatments are the best strategies for reducing the burden of cervical cancer and HPV in the developing world. In resource-poor countries that lack adequate access to cancer screenings and treatment services, it is even more essential that younger girls be immunized before they are sexually active and are exposed to HPV.

The HPV Vaccine

The HPV vaccine protects against the strains that cause up to 90 percent of cervical cancer cases. It is typically available in most routine immunization programs of high-income countries. Historically, the major barriers to reducing the burden of cervical cancer and HPV in the developing world are due to the high costs of the HPV vaccines and the difficulty of reaching adolescent girls.

The GAVI Alliance–formally known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization–is a partnership of national governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank Group, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the vaccine industry and many public health institutions. GAVI provides technical and financial support for vaccines in countries that have a gross national income of less than $1,000 per capita and other poverty-stricken countries including China, India and Indonesia.

Thanks to the efforts of GAVI, the HPV vaccine is at a record low price and the poorest countries are able to access it for as little as $4.50 per dose. Additionally, the WHO decided to change the recommended dosage of the HPV vaccine from three to two doses, which helped facilitate the country rollout of the vaccine as well as significantly reducing costs.

The first HPV vaccine demonstration program took place in Kenya in 2013, and since then, 1,000,000 girls have been vaccinated. By the end of 2016, GAVI had initiated HPV vaccine demonstration programs in 23 countries, which is the first step toward introducing the vaccine to national immunization programs. So far, Honduras, Rwanda and Uganda have introduced the HPV vaccine into their national immunization programs.

Potential Roadblocks in the Push for the HPV Vaccine

Unfortunately, the transition from the demonstration programs to national introductions is taking longer than expected for some countries. Consequently, GAVI has developed a new approach to HPV vaccine support, which draws from the valuable lessons learned from previous demonstration programs.

Some of these lessons include:

  1. The fact that school-based delivery works very well when administering the vaccine to young girls. It is more cost effective to integrate HPV immunization efforts into routine immunizations at existing health clinics and schools.
  2. When promoting HPV vaccination programs and cervical cancer prevention, the facilitation of effective and factual communication within the community is particularly critical.
  3. GAVI has made tremendous progress in reducing the prevalence of HPV in the developing world through its vaccination initiatives. Eight GAVI-supported countries have integrated the HPV vaccine into their national vaccination programs and 30 countries have started a demonstration program.

However, despite the strong signs of interest from GAVI-eligible countries and the rapid and effective integration of the HPV vaccine, GAVI’s original goal of immunizing 40,000,000 girls by 2020 may be at risk due to supply constraints.

GAVI chief executive Dr. Seth Berkley stated, “Scaling up cervical cancer prevention and control strategies should not be delayed, as we have the tools to achieve this goal. With the right commitment from vaccine manufacturers as well as political support, strategic partnerships and investments, this particular battle to improve women’s health can be won.”

Thus far, GAVI has helped low-income countries access the HPV vaccine at affordable and sustainable prices. Dr. Berkley is confident that the organization is capable of meeting its goal. GAVI is dedicated to ensuring that its progress is maintained and that millions of girls in the poorest of countries are protected from the perils of HPV and cervical cancer.

– Lolontika Hoque
Photo: Flickr