Case study of cervical cancer prevention in two sub-Saharan African countries: Rwanda and Sierra Leone

Mohamed S Bangura; Yuqian Zhao; Maria Jose Gonzalez Mendez; Yixuan Wang; Salah Didier Sama; Kunpeng Xu; Ran Ren; Li Ma; You-Lin Qiao

doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.928685

Case study of cervical cancer prevention in two sub-Saharan African countries: Rwanda and Sierra Leone

Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Sep 15:9:928685. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.928685. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Mohamed S Bangura¹, Yuqian Zhao², Maria Jose Gonzalez Mendez¹, Yixuan Wang¹, Salah Didier Sama³, Kunpeng Xu⁴, Ran Ren¹, Li Ma¹, You-Lin Qiao^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
² Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
³ Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
⁴ Department of Quality Management, Dalian 3rd People's Hospital, Dalian, China.
⁵ School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a public health issue of global concern. It is a preventable disease but continues to threaten the lives of women, especially in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We selected two African countries in sub-Saharan Africa (the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Sierra Leone) to show a good example of cervical cancer prevention and constrains hindering countries from effectively implementing cervical cancer programs. Secondary data were collected from the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the Global Burden of Cancer (GLOBOCAN), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank and from official websites of the selected countries. A descriptive analysis method was used to source data and compare variables such as the associated factors, disease burden, prevention programs, health workforce, success factors, and challenges.

Results: Rwanda achieved 93.3% human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of the three doses vaccinating girls in class 6, as a result of effective school-based platform delivery system and community partnership to identify girls who are out of school. Rwanda reduced the historical two-decade gap in vaccine introduction between high- and low-income countries. The country also introduced a nationwide cervical cancer screening and treatment program. An impressive decreased cervical cancer incidence rate in Rwanda in recent years was observed. Sierra Leone lags behind in terms of almost all cervical cancer prevention programs. Therefore, Sierra Leone needs more efforts to implement cervical cancer intervention programs at the national level, including HPV vaccination, and train and increase the number of health professionals, treatment, and palliative care services to accelerate cervical cancer activities.

Conclusion: The disease burden of cervical cancer for Rwanda and Sierra Leone is heavy. There remains huge room for improvement in preventing and controlling cervical cancer in these countries. The goal of cervical cancer elimination would not be feasible in countries without the awareness and will of the policymakers and the public, the compliance to fund cervical cancer programs, the prioritization of cervical cancer activities, the availability of resources, the adequate health workforce and infrastructure, the cross-sectional collaboration and planning, inter-sectorial, national, regional, and international partnerships.

Keywords: Rwanda; Sierra Leone; cervical cancer; screening; vaccination.