Worldwide, cervical cancer is the 4th leading cancer in women. It accounts for about 530 000 cases per year. The total number of deaths due to cervical cancer is about 270 000 per year. This is according to the statistics in 2012. 85% of these new cases occur in developing countries. In India, according to the statistics available in 2017, 122844 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 67477 die from the disease, every year. Cervical cancer ranks the 2nd most frequent cancer among women aged between 15 and 44 years of age.
Screening for cancer is known to reduce mortality by early treatment and detection. But, due to many factors and constraints, coverage of cervical cancer screening in developing countries is 19% compared to 63% in developed countries and ranges from 1% in Bangladesh to 73% in Brazil. Opportunistic screening in Kerala is 6.9%, 0.006% in Maharashtra and 0.002% in Tamil Nadu, according to data sources, 2017.
This concept paper describes the 16 strategic inputs, to be planned and implemented for an effective, community based Cervical Cancer screening program, which have been found to be highly successful by the author, as the Principal Investigator of one of the largest screening programs in India, during 2000 – 2007.
