Abstract IA3: The impact of premature death of women from preventable cancers, such as cervical cancer

Abstract

Abstract Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women living in sub-Saharan Africa, yet more women die from cervical cancer than women with breast cancer. Despite cervical cancer being preventable, services for prevention, early detection and treatment are rare in most poorer countries, and most women die in the 4th-5th decade, a time when their children are particularly vulnerable, especially the girl child. The global adult mortality rate per 1000 population by WHO region in 2011 was 160, with the highest rate being in Lesotho at 541/1000. The under 5 mortality rate per 1000 live births in the African WHO region was 95/1000 in 2012 and 12 in Europe. The Gender Inequality Index (GII) is a composite index that reflects women's relative social disadvantage in three dimensions - reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. Using the GII, among a number of other indices, it was found that overall women in developing countries had two-fold higher cervical cancer incidence rates and three-fold higher mortality rates than their counterparts from developed countries. Deprivation levels or poverty rates were a strong predictor of cross-national variations in cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Losing a parent, especially a mother for young girls may be catastrophic as her health and care is likely to deteriorate significantly. This paper will explore the range of effects of premature deaths of mothers on children in poor countries. Citation Format: Lynette Denny. The impact of premature death of women from preventable cancers, such as cervical cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR International Conference: New Frontiers in Cancer Research; 2017 Jan 18-22; Cape Town, South Africa. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA3.