Current Status of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) and Screening for Cervical Cancer in Countries at Different Levels of Development

Sreejata Raychaudhuri,Sukanta Mandal

doi:10.7314/apjcp.2012.13.9.4221

Abstract

Cancer of the uterine cervix is a worldwide menace taking innumerable womens' lives. The literature is vast and a large number of studies have been conducted in this field. Analyses have shown significant differences exist in terms of screening and HPV testing facilities among high income and low to middle income countries. In addition, acute lack of awareness and knowledge among the concerned population is particularly noted in rural areas of the low income countries. A detailed review of Indian case studies revealed that early age of marriage and childbirth, multiparity, poor personal hygiene and low socio-economic status among others are the principal risk factors for this disease. This review concludes that a two pronged strategy involving strong government and NGO action is necessary to minimize the occurrence of cervical cancer especially in low and medium income countries.

Highlights

Cancer of the uterine cervix is a killer disease, which affects the female population in India
It has been estimated that 100,000 new cases of cancer of the cervix occur in India every year and 70% or more of these are stage III or higher at diagnosis (Nandakumar et al, 1995).The risk factors known to increase the incidence of cervical cancer are early marriage and sexual practice, delivery of the first baby before the age of 20, too many or too frequent childbirths, multiple sexual partners, poor practice of personal hygiene, low socio economic status, Human Papilloma Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus type II, HIV positivity, use of oral contraceptive pill, smoking etc
The review of Indian reports highlights more minutely the categories and causes which exacerbate the incidence of cervical cancer in a low income country. It is clear from the above discussion that there is a serious dearth of screening facilities and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in low and middle income countries including India

Summary

Introduction

Cancer of the uterine cervix is a killer disease, which affects the female population in India. Cervical cancer is the most dreadful type of human cancer (Mitra, 2009). It has been estimated that 100,000 new cases of cancer of the cervix occur in India every year and 70% or more of these are stage III or higher at diagnosis (Nandakumar et al, 1995).The risk factors known to increase the incidence of cervical cancer are early marriage (child marriage) and sexual practice, delivery of the first baby before the age of 20, too many or too frequent childbirths, multiple sexual partners, poor practice of personal hygiene, low socio economic status, Human Papilloma Virus, Herpes Simplex Virus type II, HIV positivity, use of oral contraceptive pill, smoking etc. India is separately taken as a case study to magnify some of the lesser known but widely prevalent causes of cervical cancer

Objectives

Findings

Conclusion