Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in many developing
countries, where over 80% of new cases of cervical cancer occur [
[1]
]. Because global cancer rates could increase 50% by the year 2020 [
[2]
], the impact of this disease is likely to increase over time. Introduction of conventional
Papanicolaou cytologic (Pap) screening services to populations naïve to screening
reduces cervical cancer rates by 60% to 90% within 3 years of implementation; these
reductions of incidence and mortality are consistent and dramatic across populations
[
[3]
]. On a global scale, cervical cancer is therefore the most preventable form of cancer-related
death among women. Although progress is optional in all settings, Pap screening services
are feasible anywhere in the world where cervical screening is appropriate and should
be implemented in high-risk communities with access to curative treatment services
[
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Screening for cervical cancer. Systematic evidence review number 25. January 2002. Available at: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/prev/crvcainv.htm. Accessed March 1, 2004.
[4]
]. Past failures of cervical screening in developing countries are attributable to
failures in programmatic quality, rather than to technological limitations of the
screening test [
[5]
]. A shift in paradigmatic focus from technology to quality is therefore mandatory
in developing countries [
4
,
6
].To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Footnotes
Written on behalf of the Viet/American Cervical Cancer Prevention Project, 2295 Vallejo Street, Suite 508, San Francisco, CA 94123.
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
