Affiliation:
1. Department of Midwifery, Mother and Child Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
2. Department of Midwifery, Social Determinations of Health Research Center, Faculty of Midwifery, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
Abstract
Background:
Cervical cancer affects women in the time that they are critical to economic
and social stability.
Objective:
The aim of this narrative review to assess the socio-economic consequences of cervical
cancer.
Methods:
In this review, Pubmed, Scopus, ISI web of science, Conferences databases and Iranian
databases were searched. In order to search related articles, researchers used the following terms:
“Uterine cervical neoplasms” OR ‘cervical cancer”; Costs and cost analysis; costs of illness, burden,
socioeconomic. After the primary search, some records were obtained from 1960 to 2018. After
studying titles, abstracts, and in some cases the full texts, 48 relevant articles were included in
this research.
Results:
Hospitalization costs were the highest direct costs. However, total social costs are higher
than health and medical costs. There is a dramatic increase in direct costs with the increase in age
and stage of the disease. The costs are less for people aged 75 and up and for stage 4 because of less
invasive treatment received by older women and the limited choice of treatment in advanced stages.
The costs for persons who were screened 6 months to 5 years before diagnosis were lower.
Conclusion:
The burden of the disease is high. Early detection of cancer can save lives and reduce
health care costs. Studies evaluating the costs associated with cervical cancer as well as virusrelated
diseases in developing countries, calculating indirect costs and the impact of the disease on
family members, relatives, and especially the spouse of the affected women are recommended.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Obstetrics and Gynecology