Women diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer and who have medical insurance have high survival rates, according to a recent study in Kenya.
Cervical cancer, the second most common after breast cancer among women in Kenya, has extremely low rates of recurrence if treated before the symptoms appear.
The study, conducted at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, and published last week, delved into the medical records of 162 patients over a two-year period following their diagnosis.
The findings provide crucial insights into the challenges faced by these patients and the factors influencing their survival.
Within the two-year follow-up period, 43.2 per cent of the women in the study succumbed to cervical cancer.
Most of these had no NHIF insurance, were diagnosed late, and were managed through medication rather than surgery.
Survival rates were significantly higher for patients with medical insurance, early-stage diagnoses, and those undergoing surgical management.
The study, survival of cervical cancer patients at Moi teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), is published in the BMC Cancer journal.
Patients diagnosed at late stages had over eight times the risk of death compared to those diagnosed at early stages. Moreover, individuals undergoing surgical management had an 84 per cent reduced hazard of mortality compared to those referred for other modes of care.
"Majority of the participants were diagnosed late after presenting with symptoms. It is imperative that women present early since surgery gives a better prognosis or, better still, screening of all women prioritised," the researchers said.
They included medics from Moi University, Aga Khan University Hospital, Ampath, MTRH and the universities of Gent and Antwerp of Belgium.
According to the Ministry of Health, 5,236 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year and 3,211 die from the disease.
It is entirely preventable through a vaccine given to all girls aged nine to 14 years, before they become sexually active.
According to the World Health Organization, women should be screened for cervical cancer every five to 10 years starting at age 30.
Women living with HIV should be screened every three years starting at age 25. Pre-cancers rarely cause symptoms, which is why regular cervical cancer screening is important, even if one has been vaccinated against HPV, WHO says.
Treatment of pre-cancers is a simple procedure and prevents the disease.
“In the last three years, we have witnessed significant progress, but women in poorer countries and poor and marginalised women in richer countries still suffer disproportionately from cervical cancer,” WHO Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said.
“With enhanced strategies to increase access to vaccination, screening and treatment, strong political and financial commitment from countries, and increased support from partners, we can realise our vision for eliminating cervical cancer.”
Currently, Australia is on target to be among the first countries in the world to eliminate cervical cancer, which the country anticipates to achieve in the next 10 years.
The global HPV vaccination coverage of girls that received at least one dose of HPV vaccine has increased to 21 per cent in 2022 – exceeding the pre-pandemic levels for the first time, WHO said.
“If this rate of progress is maintained the world would be on track to meet the 2030 target to make HPV vaccines available to all girls everywhere,” WHO said in a statement.
Currently, Kenya requires girls to get two doses of the vaccine.
The jab was introduced in 2019 but Kenya has struggled to get girls to take two doses, given six months apart.
The Ministry of Health says it targeted to vaccinate 3.2 million girls by June 2023.
However, only 1.7 million girls had been vaccinated and only 876,800 (27.4 per cent) had received the second jab in February this year.
Most vaccinations have taken place in Bungoma, Siaya, Vihiga, Nyamira, Taita Taveta, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua and Nyeri.
These counties have vaccinated at least 50 per cent of the targeted girls with a single dose.