Cervical cancer in developing countries: effective screening and preventive strategies with an application in Rwanda
Mukakalisa, I.; Bindler, R.; Allen, C.; Dotson, J.
Health Care for Women International 35(7-9): 1065-1080
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 0739-9332 PMID: 24750113 DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2014.909433Document Number: 624866
In this article we explore literature regarding cervical cancer screening methods available in developing countries. Cervical cancer is a preventable and curable disease, but it continues to threaten the lives of many women. Eighty-five percent of cases and the majority of deaths occur in developing countries. Cytology via Papinicolaou (Pap) smear is not generally a suitable method of screening in low-resource regions. Alternative methods include visual inspection by acetic acid (VIA), human papillomavirus-deoxyribonucleic acid (HPV-DNA), and careHPV-DNA. Education is needed for health care providers and women about preventive immunization and screening. A Rwandan project is described to demonstrate effective program planning and implementation.