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Cervical cancer prevention and treatment research in Africa: a systematic review from a public health perspective.
- Source :
- BMC Women's Health; 6/4/2016, Vol. 16, p1-25, 25p, 1 Diagram, 4 Charts, 1 Map
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Women living in Africa experience the highest burden of cervical cancer. Research and investment to improve vaccination, screening, and treatment efforts are critically needed. We systematically reviewed and characterized recent research within a broader public health framework to organize and assess the range of cervical cancer research in Africa.<bold>Methods: </bold>We searched online databases and the Internet for published articles and cervical cancer reports in African countries. Inclusion criteria included publication between 2004 and 2014, cervical cancer-related content pertinent to one of the four public health categories (primary, secondary, tertiary prevention or quality of life), and conducted in or specifically relevant to countries or regions within the African continent. The study design, geographic region/country, focus of research, and key findings were documented for each eligible article and summarized to illustrate the weight and research coverage in each area. Publications with more than one focus (e.g. secondary and tertiary prevention) were categorized by the primary emphasis of the paper. Research specific to HIV-infected women or focused on feasibility issues was delineated within each of the four public health categories.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 380 research articles/reports were included. The majority (54.6 %) of cervical cancer research in Africa focused on secondary prevention (i.e., screening). The number of publication focusing on primary prevention (23.4 %), particularly HPV vaccination, increased significantly in the past decade. Research regarding the treatment of precancerous lesions and invasive cervical cancer is emerging (17.6 %), but infrastructure and feasibility challenges in many countries have impeded efforts to provide and evaluate treatment. Studies assessing aspects of quality of life among women living with cervical cancer are severely limited (4.1 %). Across all categories, 11.3 % of publications focused on cervical cancer among HIV-infected women, while 17.1 % focused on aspects of feasibility for cervical cancer control efforts.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Cervical cancer research in African countries has increased steadily over the past decade, but more is needed. Tertiary prevention (i.e. treatment of disease with effective medicine) and quality of life of cervical cancer survivors are two severely under-researched areas. Similarly, there are several countries in Africa with little to no research ever conducted on cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- CERVICAL cancer treatment
CANCER in women
QUALITY of life
CANCER patients
CANCER prevention
MENTAL health
CERVIX uteri tumors
TUMOR prevention
IMMUNIZATION
MEDICAL protocols
PAPILLOMAVIRUSES
PREVENTIVE health services
PUBLIC health
SYSTEMATIC reviews
HUMAN papillomavirus vaccines
PHARMACODYNAMICS
TUMOR treatment
VACCINATION
THERAPEUTICS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14726874
- Volume :
- 16
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Women's Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 115953199
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-016-0306-6