Global Inequalities in Cervical Cancer Incidence and Mortality

Abstract

Objective: Cervical cancer (CC) is the third most common cancer in women after breast and colorectal cancers and is one of the leading causes of cancer death among women in the world. The aim this study is associations of cervix cancer incidence and mortality rates with Human Development Index (HDI).Methods: The Information of the incidence and mortality rates of CC obtained from the GLOBOCAN cancer project in year 2012 and data for the HDI 2013 obtained from the World Bank database. The linear regression models were used for assessment of the HDI effect on CC occurrence rates. Inequality in the age-specific incidence and mortality rates (ASR) of CC according to the HDI were assessed by using concentration index.Results: The results of this study that incidence and mortality rates of CC were very higher in regions with low & median HDI as compared to regions that had very high & high HDI, indeed Death and incidence from CC were more concentrated in low HDI countries. There was significant negative association between cervix cancer incidence and mortality rates with all the components of HDI including life expectancy (B= -0.98, P<0.001), Mean years of schooling (B= -1.86, P<0.001), GNI (B= -0.38, P<0.001), urbanization level (B= -0.29, P<0.001), and age standardized obesity (B= -0.45 , P<0.001).Conclusion: It seems CC significant public health problem in countries with low HDI and requires the implementation of prevention programs and screening for early detection and treatment.