A Comparison of the National Cervical Cancer Policies in Six  Developing Countries with the World Health Organization  Recommendations: A Narrative Review

Siti  Maisara Amir; Idayu Badilla  Idris; Zakiah  Mohd Said; Hanizah Mohd  Yusoff; Mohd Rizal  Abdul Manaf

doi:10.18502/ijph.v52i6.12952

Siti Maisara Amir Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Idayu Badilla Idris Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Zakiah Mohd Said Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Hanizah Mohd Yusoff Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Mohd Rizal Abdul Manaf Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v52i6.12952

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Prevention; Control; Developing country; Policy

Abstract

Background: This study reviewed cervical cancer policies implemented in developing countries that adhered to WHO standards. Despite long being known as a preventable disease, cervical cancer is still one of the leading causes of mortality among women. Nine out of ten cervical cancer deaths occurred in less-developed countries, suggesting that the preventive and control approaches in these countries might differ from those in developed nations.

Methods: Cervical cancer policies in six developing countries from each WHO region were selected while related data from the Cervical Cancer Country Profiles 2021 by WHO were retrieved for comparison.

Results: The cervical cancer policies that were included in this review were from Malaysia, Thailand, Iran, Kenya, Argentina, and Ukraine. According to the latest guidelines on the management of cervical cancers, WHO recommendations have been elaborated on primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. A comparison of policies among these selected countries showed variation in each level of prevention. The cancer burden in each country was also found to determine the progression of cervical cancer prevention and policy controls in these countries.

Conclusion: This review emphasizes the dissimilarities of cervical cancer policies in six developing countries compared to recommendations by the WHO. Identifying these discrepancies could help policymakers in developing nations to recognize the pressing issues surrounding cervical cancer prevention and establish more effective prevention and control approaches.