Screening for Cervical Cancer in Low-Resource Settings in 2011

Abstract

Context.—Cervical cancer remains the most common malignancy in women living in low- and middle-income countries, despite the decline of the disease in countries where cervical cytology screening programs have been implemented. Objectives.—To review the current incidence of cervical cancer in low-resource countries, the availability and types of screening programs, and the treatment options. Data Sources.—Literature review through PubMed, Internet search, and personal communication. Conclusions.—Although data are incomplete, available figures confirm that the rate of cervical cancer deaths and the availability of cervical cancer screening programs are inversely proportional and vary, in general, by the wealth of the nation. Despite the success of cervical cytology screening, many major health care organizations have abandoned screening by cytology in favor of direct visualization methods with immediate treatment of lesions by cryotherapy provided by trained, nonmedical personnel.