Cervical cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa by age, stage at diagnosis and Human Development Index (HDI): a population-based registry study

In a new collaborative study on cervical cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa, scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the African Cancer Registry Network explore survival patterns of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2005–2015 using data from 13 population-based cancer registries in 11 countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe). The study was published today in the International Journal of Cancer.

This is the first multi-country comparison of population-based cervical cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa that takes into account age, stage at diagnosis, and country-level Human Development Index (HDI). The researchers found that overall, patients with cervical cancer from registry areas with medium and low HDI were at least 4 times as likely to die as those from registry areas with high HDI. The 5-year relative survival for patients diagnosed with stage I–II cervical cancer was much higher for registry areas with high HDI (67.5%; 95% confidence interval, 42.1–83.6%) than for registry areas with low HDI (42.2%; 95% confidence interval, 30.6–53.2%).

Factors that contribute to the HDI (such as education level and a country’s financial resources) are critical for cervical cancer control in sub-Saharan Africa, and there is a need to strengthen health systems with timely and appropriate prevention and treatment programmes.

Sengayi-Muchengeti M, Joko-Fru WY, Miranda-Filho A, Egue M, Akele-Akpo MT, N’da G, et al.
Cervical cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa by age, stage at diagnosis and Human Development Index (HDI): a population-based registry study
Int J Cancer, Published online 25 May 2020;
https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.33120

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