Global disparities and trends in cervical cancer morbidity and mortality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15574/HW.2026.1(182).8690Keywords:
cervical cancer, morbidity, mortality, epidemiology, global trendsAbstract
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide, despite the availability of effective prevention methods such as human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening programs. High-income countries have seen significant declines in recent decades, while the burden of disease remains critically high in low- and middle-income countries, underscoring global health inequalities.
Aim - to analyze global trends in morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer, as well as to assess regional disparities and factors affecting their formation.
A systematic literature review was conducted using the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases for the period 2000-2025. The search was carried out using the keywords "cervical cancer", "incidence", "mortality", "epidemiology", and "global trends". The analysis included peer-reviewed articles in English that contained epidemiological data at the global or regional levels. The selection of studies was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations, followed by a qualitative synthesis of the results. The analysis showed significant unevenness in the distribution of morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer. In high-income countries, rates have declined with the introduction of HPV screening and vaccination. At the same time, low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia, continue to have high rates of morbidity and mortality. Determining factors include limited access to health services, low vaccination coverage, and socio-economic barriers.
Conclusions. Cervical cancer remains a significant global problem with marked regional disparities. There is a need to expand HPV vaccination programs, increase the availability of screening, and implement effective early diagnosis strategies, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.
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