Strategic Planning for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control in Africa: Training Manual
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of global death and disability, creating significant health and economic burdens on individuals, societies and health systems. Cancers, in particular, caused some 8.2 million deaths every year.
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality among women in developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, 34.8 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed per 100 000 women annually, and 22.5 per 100 000 women die from the disease. These figures compare with 6.6 and 2.5 per 100 000 women, respectively, in North America.
The major risk factor associated with cervical cancer is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection which generally occurs in adolescence after the first acts of sexual intercourse. In Africa, HPV infection prevalence is estimated at 21.3%, with significant variations from region to region: 33.6% in East Africa, 21.5% in West Africa and 21% in Southern Africa. Other major risk factors include tobacco use and lack of screening and adequate treatment of precancerous